Municipality awaits ruling on post

THE Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) continues to await the ruling on its proposed municipal manager following an interim interdict by the UDM which prevented a council meeting, aimed at endorsing the appointment of the municipal manager (MM) from continuing.

The Rep reported (“Meeting cancelled”, June 2) that the UDM had applied to interdict the council from meeting on May 26, following dissatisfaction over what was alleged to be the planned appointment of the MM without following due process.

UDM councillor Mthuthuzeli Hokolo indicated at the time that while the party had no problem with the proposed MM – with the preferred candidate being former Sakhisizwe MM Thembeni Samuel – it wanted to see proper procedures being followed.

“We tasked the executive mayor [Lindiwe Gunuza Nkwentsha] to check on the recruitment processes and she was supposed to report back to us, but she did not.

“Council did not constitute the panel and we understand there were fraudulent minutes used,” he said.

On previous occasions, he said, opposition parties had been represented on the panel.

In his response to the matter this week, EMLM spokesman Fundile Feketshane said the High Court in Grahamstown had reserved judgment.

“We shall be advised by the Registrar of the High Court as to when it shall be delivered by the presiding judge.”

He called for patience from all to allow the matter to take its course, saying the local authority would issue a statement to update the stakeholders once the outcome was known. – Rep reporter