Internal power struggles plague councils

AS MUNICIPALITIES enter the second month of their new 2017-18 financial year, some in the province find themselves leaderless as internal power struggles continue to trouble them.

We look at a few of the municipalities which have been making headlines recently:

● Last month cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) MEC Fikile Xasa called on the Mnquma local council to rescind its decision to remove acting municipal manager Themba Hani, saying the decision was “humiliating”.

Hani had been seconded to run Mnquma in May, while the embattled local authority sought a permanent municipal manager. He was given until the end of June to facilitate, among other things, the interviewing and identifying of the new municipal manager.

This did not happen and Hani was abruptly removed from his position with members of the council, supported by speaker Zibuthe Mnqwazi, reappointing Plata as acting municipal manager.

● In May, the Mthatha High Court interdicted then Engcobo municipal manager Silumnko Mahlasela and two senior managers from doing their jobs.

The contracts of the three were allegedly renewed without proper processes being followed.

The court prevented them from performing any duties attached to their offices, until their case has been finalised.

This happened as the EFF took the municipality to court, questioning the legality of extending the contracts of Mahlasela, chief financial officer Mzusekho Matomane and corporate services manager Vuyiseka Mviko.

The council resolved to extend the accounting officer’s contract in January this year but Xasa did not concur, meaning the appointment was illegal.

Despite this, Mahlasela remained at the post.

● Last week the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality, which has its headquarters in Cradock, suspended their municipal manager, Mzwandile Tantsi. Tantsi allegedly re-appointed 50 staff members, which neither the council nor mayor was happy about.

The mayor could not be reached for comment. —