Ex-poo protester will be less flush in new job

FORMER poo protester Loyiso Nkohla has secured another job with the City of Cape Town, but with a substantial salary cut.

Nkohla, a former ANC councillor, was employed by the municipality in September following his campaigning for the DA during the municipal elections, but his contract ended last month. This was after councillor Ernest Sonnenberg resigned and became sub-council manager.

Nkohla’s appointment at the municipality raised eyebrows, both from the ANC and the DA, whose leader Mmusi Maimane called for his contract not to be renewed and questioned the criminal cases against him.

Nkohla and seven members of the Ses’khona People’s Rights Movement were found guilty of throwing human waste at Cape Town International Airport in 2013.

He will now report to the new mayoral committee member for informal settlements, utilities and energy, Xanthea Limberg, as a community liaison officer.

Mayor Patricia de Lille’s spokesperson, Zara Nicholson, said yesterday that Nkohla’s appointment was made at the discretion of Limberg.

“The annual salary for the position is approximately R410 000,” Nicholson added. During his time as Sonnenberg’s adviser, Nkohla earned more than R700 000 a year.

His new job came into effect following De Lille’s shake-up of the mayoral committee earlier this week.

The reshuffling introduced four “mini-mayors” who will work with community liaison officers, whose mandate is to serve as go-betweens for the city.

According to officials, the new role will include engaging with communities and informing beneficiaries of the city’s plans and projects in specific areas. The officials will also meet with communities to help with conflict resolutions.

Nkohla held a large support base from informal settlement dwellers during his time with the ANC, even after his expulsion from the party for bringing it into disrepute by dumping faeces during protests.