Search for city boss on again

Council gives Wayile nod to headhunt municipal manager

THE fate of Nelson Mandela Bay hangs in the balance after city bosses failed, for a third time, to appoint a municipal manager yesterday, raising fears of a possible take-over by Bhisho. Mayor Zanoxolo Wayile has been given less than three months to headhunt a suitable candidate in the new year, after the three candidates who were interviewed last week failed to make the grade.

Wayile will also have to explain to his boss, Local Government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane, why suitable candidates could not be recruited since 2009.

Qoboshiyane said yesterday: “My worst fear is that the continued calamity, instability and infighting may scare [off] highly skilled, qualified and competent personnel.

“The situation is grave considering that a number of acting executive directors’ contracts ended, only to be extended . . .

“Everyone needs to own up and take responsibility of this situation,” he said.

Qoboshiyane had earlier threatened that if the council did not appoint a municipal manager yesterday, his department would take over those responsibilities.

Yesterday, the majority of councillors also pushed through the appointment of Section 154 general manager Ntombi Baart as acting chief operating officer (COO), replacing Israel Tsatsire who was appointed acting municipal manager earlier this week.

At a marathon council meeting yesterday, councillors met behind closed doors to discuss the municipal manager post.

The ANC and DA agreed that Wayile be given the go-ahead to handpick a suitable manager.

The minority parties – UDM, PAC, COPE and ACDP – disagreed and said the process had to be transparent and the post ought to be re-advertised.

Wayile said later the council had agreed that he look into the option of headhunting a suitable candidate because the shortlisted candidates were found to be lacking in the experience necessary for the job.

The top three shortlisted candidates were Nhlakanipho Nkontwana, Johan Leibrandt and Dr Sithembele Vatala.

Nkontwana was former defence minister Lindiwe Sisulu’s special adviser, while Leibrandt worked as a consultant for local government in Gauteng. Vatala is the suspended director of the municipality’s Integrated Development Plan division.

Wayile now needs permission from the Minister of Cooperative Governance to start the headhunting process.

Councillors have given the mayor until February to prepare a report with a new recommendation for a city manager.

Meanwhile, minority parties and ANC councillor Babalwa Lobishe vehemently opposed Wayile’s proposal that Baart be appointed acting chief operating officer.

Wayile did not provide a report with her list of credentials and experience.

The parties said it was further proof that the Section 154 team was in the city to take officials’ jobs.

UDM councillor Mongameli Bobani said: “We don’t have a report here and we would like to have the CV like we have done with everyone else. We want to know who this person is.

“Why don’t we check her track record because we know it was not good at Makana Municipality?”

He was blasted by speaker Maria Hermans, who said it was “not proper” to make allegations about an official

without proof. “Makana and the history of the person is not for this council to discuss. It is not relevant to this house.”

COPE councillor Rano Kayser said: “We propose that the mayor identify a person for that position from the COO’s office and that Baart can be a mentor to that person.”

PAC councillor Anele Yawa said: “This is exactly why we don’t support the Section 154 team. They were seconded to give support and not [to be] employed as officials.

“In that office of the COO there are other people there who can do the job. What makes this candidate [Baart] better than others? Section 154 is here to colonize this metro,” Yawa said.

Lobishe wanted to know how council was expected to approve the recommendation when it did not have a report on Baart’s background.

“Must we pass the item without the necessary background?

“We are not saying this incumbent does not fit the part, but a properly crafted item should have come to council for us to apply our minds,” Lobishe said.

Wayile said Baart was competent and experienced in local government and the best person for the job.

“These are special circumstances. When people break away for holidays someone needs to run this institution and make decisions.

“This is not a permanent arrangement,” he said.

Ninety-six councillors voted for Baart’s appointment, nine against and four abstained.

The DA yesterday withdrew its motion for a vote of no confidence in Wayile, saying he had made some progress to address their demands.