Mhlathuze board nominations not unexpected

THE Department of Water and Sanitation said yesterday there was nothing untoward with Mhlathuze Water opening nominations to recruit a new board.

This was despite the department’s intention to disestablish the entity and merge it with Umgeni Water to form a single regional water entity.

Departmental spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said the merger had been put on hold, therefore it was expected that for Mhlathuze Water to continue functioning, a new board was needed to take its work forward.

“There is nothing untoward that the entity (Mhlathuze Water) is doing at the moment, until the process of whether there is an amalgamation or not is finalised.”

Ratau said the putting on ice of the decision to merge KwaZulu-Natal’s two water entities into one was attributed to the change in the administration from former minister Nomvula Mokonyane to the incumbent, Minister Gugile Nkwinti.

Nkwinti is said to be trying to work around the departmental issues, including some of the decisions taken by Mokonyane.

Ratau said the decision to merge the two entities was up to Nkwinti.

Mhlathuze Water called members of the public to nominate individuals to serve on its board, setting in motion the process of replacing the members of the former board who left office early last year.

The entity’s former board was chaired by former SAA board chairperson Dudu Myeni, who left the entity after the Pietermaritzburg High Court ruled that the board had to be replaced.

It was taken to court by Mhlathuze Water’s former chief executive Sibusiso Makhanya, who was later suspended.

Mhlathuze Water’s interim chief executive, Mthokozisi Duze, said this was in response to a directive issued by Nkwinti that a board be appointed to oversee the effective governance of the entity.

“We have begun the process of looking for suitable candidates to fill the vacancies of board members at Mhlathuze Water.

“We want to conduct this process expeditiously, as we are keen to ensure that the entity is capacitated to execute its mission of delivering to all its stakeholders a constant and quality water supply,” Duze pointed out.

In the Government Gazette dated November 10, 2017 Mokonyane published her intention to disestablish Mhlathuze Water, transfer the entity’s staff to Umgeni Water and then change the entity’s name to KwaZuluNatal Water Board.

This was part of the rationalisation of water services and water management to enhance water supply in the province.

Individuals and organisations have until Sunday to submit their nominations of suitably qualified candidates to be considered for appointment as members of the board of Mhlathuze Water.