MM must explain
Official given seven days to oppose suspension
The Enoch Mgijima Municipal council has given municipal manager (MM) Chris Magwangqana seven days to state why he should not be suspended for allegedly misleading councillors and failing to defend municipal assets in court.
Drama unfolded during the council meeting on Friday as Samwu-affiliated workers, showing their support for Magwangqana, staged a sit-in during the meeting. Police were called to have them removed, but the workers were later allowed to sit in the public gallery.
The controversial meeting also saw DA councillor Malibongwe Xhelisilo almost being physically assaulted by ANC councillor Madoda Papiyana after he told one of the ruling party’s councillors to shut up while he was talking.
Magwangqana told council last month that he had used money collected through rates and services to pay Eskom and Milowo Trading Enterprise. He also indicated that revenue collection had increased by up to 70% which later transpired not to be a true reflection of events in the troubled municipality. Council had indicated that Magwangqana had used the equitable share meant for service delivery and salaries to pay municipal debts. Magwangqana indicated in a media briefing last week that department of co-operative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa had withheld the municipality’s equitable share of about R44m and that the local authority was therefore unable to deliver services as intended.
During a special council meeting last Friday, council resolved that the MM be served with a notice of intent to suspend him for failure to defend municipal assets from being auctioned earlier this year.
Council also rescinded its earlier decision to reject intervention from Cogta via the placement of an administrator, Vuyo Mlokothi.
The Rep reported, (“Hue and cry over meeting”, September 21) that a special council meeting last Tuesday to suspend Magwangqana, was adjourned before items on the agenda were discussed due to it being
unlawfully convened.
This transpired after council speaker Mzoxolo Peter shot down opposition parties who, again, questioned the legality of Friday’s meeting.
Peter indicated the Friday meeting had met all convening requirements and that councillors who indicated they were not going to participate in an “illegal” meeting could excuse themselves.
The DA councillors walked out.
The Friday meeting was later closed to the public as pesticide with a bad smell was poured on to the premises by municipal workers.
The meeting, however, continued as scheduled.
ANC regional secretary Lusanda Sizani said in a press briefing on Friday the charges against Magwangqana warranted a suspension.
“The mayor, Sisisi Tolashe, will write to Magwangqana as council resolved, instructing him to state why he thinks he should not be suspended. If he does not respond in seven working days he will be suspended. If he does reply, council will have to debate his response and resolve whether it is good enough to retain his job or not. ”
EMLM spokesperson Fundile Feketshane could not indicate when or if the notice had been handed over to the municipal manager, with Magwangqana being on leave this week.