Focus on people and processes to turn Makana around
Makana Municipality is delighted to welcome its newly appointed Corporate Services Director who took up the new position last month.
The municipality has been without a Corporate Services Director since 2015. On Wednesday during a special council meeting she was appointed as the acting municipal manager on a month-tomonth basis for a period of not more than three months pending the secondment of an official from the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, effective from 28 September 2017.
The Communications Department sat down with the new director for an interview.
Can you please tell us your full name and where you are from?
My name is Nomthandazo Mazwayi.
I am from Queenstown in Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality under the Chris Hani District. I am married with two kids, a boy and a girl.
Can you please tell us where and what you studied?
• Kuyasa High School in Dimbaza King Williams Town • Bachelor of Administration Degree – University of Fort Hare major with HR Management and Public Sector Management • Admin (Hon) Industrial Psychology – University of Fort Hare major with Industrial Psychology • Tech degree (Policing) – Tshwane University major with Forensic Auditing • Currently doing secondyear Masters in Industrial Psychology – University of Fort Hare • Certificate in Financial Management known as CPMD – University of Fort Hare
Short courses include
Human Resources Transformation; Service Level Agreement and Contracts Management; Local Government HR Management; Local Government Transformation Management; IDP, SDBIP and Performance Management; Skills Development and Talent Management; Organisational Development; Performance Management; Risk Management; Records and electronic documents management; Labour Law Update; Supply Chain Management; Practical Handling of Discipline; Project Management; Racketeering and Financial Investigation; Integrity Promotion Strategy.
Can you please give us a summary of where you have worked before taking up your new position in Makana?
• June 2014 to March 2015: Acting Municipal Manager – Ngqushwa Municipality • Director: Corporate Services – Ngqushwa Local Municipality • Forensic Investigator – NEXIA SAB&T – Accounting and Auditing Firm • Director: Corporate Services – Sakhisizwe Local Municipality • Special Investigator for National Prosecuting Authority (Scorpions) • Interpreter for Commission for Conciliation, Mediation & Arbitration (CCMA)
As the newly appointed Director of Corporate Services can you please tell us what your main priorities are, based on your observations since you arrived in Makana?
• Link the Cost Reduction Strategy with the reviewed organisational structure and fast track the filling of key positions (Municipal Manager) and other critical posts with clear job descriptions; • Internal Control measures and monitoring systems – Performance Management System (Indi- vidual performance) to be cascaded down to the rest of institution and policies; • Comprehensive HRM&D strategy to ensure the effective management of human capital which will be guided by the Employment Equity Plan and IDP objectives; • Sound labour relations; • Municipal turnaround strategy; • Proper document management; • Attend to issues raised by the Auditor General – audit action plan and management letter.
Can you please give a brief indication of the challenges facing your directorate?
• Abuse of overtime and municipal properties • Appointments not linked to organogram or to the budget plan due to absorption of casual employees that was done in 2016 • Unable to do Training and Development of employees due to financial constraints • Low staff moral due to unfinished job descriptions • Managers who don’t want to take responsibility for their departments • Ill-discipline and absenteeism within the institution; long overdue cases and litigation.
Your thoughts about Grahamstown as a city and its people?
Although Grahamstown is a small town within the Eastern Cape, it’s a nice place to stay. It also has many schools as well as Rhodes University.
The town has a lot of historical attractions in the form of buildings all around the town, such Albany Museum, Clock Tower and Settlers Monument etc.
These are properly maintained as heritage sites. Not forgetting the annual National Art Festival which people always go crazy over. It also attracts a lot of people and tourists within the province and around the country.
The Annual National Art Festival also boosts the local economy and creates employment opportunities. Grahamstown is a home for everybody whether you’re from other provinces or countries.