SHOCK RESIGNATION
In Diamond they had, for the first time in a long time, an approachable, communicative man at the helm
MBOMBELA - Less than two years after his appointment at the City of Mbombela Local Municipality, municipal manager (MM) Neil Diamond seems to be on his way out again.
All indications that he had tendered his resignation, and that the municipality accepted it, were confirmed to councillors on Wednesday when it appeared as an item on their agendas for today’s council meeting.
As the meeting is only scheduled for this morning at 11:00, and the agenda is not a public document until it has been tabled, Lowvelder was unable to approach relevant parties, the MM included, for comment on the matter.
However, it has been confirmed that Diamond tendered his resignation on June 30 with a 30-day notice period. He reached an agreement with the executive mayor, Cllr Sibusiso Mathonsi, that his notice period will be served from August 1 to 30.
Diamond was appointed as acting MM in July 2017. His position was made permanent last November. He was appointed for a three-year period.
The news has come as a blow to residents, especially the business community.
In Diamond they had, for the first time in a long time, an approachable, communicative man at the helm and one who was not shy to communicate with his citizens, often directly on Facebook.
He inherited a financial mess and has widely admitted that the City had a long way to go to fix its finances. However, people with knowledge of council matters widely agreed that he was making deep inroads into getting the municipality back on track. Read more about what they had to say alongside.
Council was to approve the advertising of the vacancy during the council meeting today. The post is to be advertised nationally. The shortlisting and interviewing panel is to include Ehlanzeni District Municipality and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Diamond’s next move is unclear. His family recently relocated to the USA and it is expected that he will join them now, instead of at the end of his contract in two years’ time. He would not give comment to Lowvelder. Mathonsi could not be reached for comment at the time of going to press.