Mbambisa candidate rejected
‘Lacks qualifications, experience for job’
AN attempt by Nelson Mandela Bay city manager Mpilo Mbambisa to appoint an under-qualified former councillor into a lucrative senior manager position was shot down when the ANC caucus questioned his qualifications. Mbambisa’s confidential report to the council, which met on Thursday, recommended that the municipality’s physical cluster coordinator, Sicelo Mnyaka, be appointed as acting executive director of the special programmes department.
The political head of corporate services, councillor Wandisile Jikeka, is said to have raised concerns that Mnyaka failed to meet the minimum requirements for the job.
The report was withdrawn. It was not clear if it would be brought back to the council at a later stage.
The mayoral committee, headed by mayor Ben Fihla, recently rescinded a decision by former mayor Zanoxolo Wayile in 2009 to disband the special programmes department.
Fihla has plans to revive the department, which include handing over responsibility for the Walmer township development programmes and “hotspot” areas to it and giving it the duty to spearhead the Vision 2020 projects. These projects include the waterfront development, liberation statue, Bayworld, the Telkom Park development and the Apple Express.
Plans are also under way to move the Integrated Public Transport System sub-directorate to the special programmes department. This currently falls under the infrastructure and engineering department.
In a letter published in The Herald yesterday, political and strategic adviser to the mayoral leadership Likhaya Ngqezana said the department had to be “highly specialised” and “manned by seasoned staff experienced in managing development projects”.
In Fihla’s report to the council, it is stated that the mayoral committee recommended that an acting executive director be appointed to oversee all the processes leading to the department’s re-establishment and thereafter a permanent senior manager be sought.
ANC councillors, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Jikeka questioned Mnyaka’s competencies during a caucus meeting on Thursday morning.
“Never mind the fact that he does not have the national Treasury competency requirements [which are unit standards that have to be completed by all senior managers], he does not even have the minimum requirements for the job.
“Everyone agreed that you cannot hire someone who doesn’t even have a completed degree. No one forced the issue.
“When councillor Jikeka questioned it, the city manager [Mbambisa] said it was a report from corporate services,” one ANC councillor said.
Another councillor concurred that none of the ANC councillors pushed for Mnyaka’s appointment.
A third councillor said: “We asked Mbambisa to explain which diploma is equivalent to a degree because for that job he needs a degree. He doesn’t have the qualifications and experience for the job and we all agreed.”
According to the government gazette signed in January this year, a senior manager must have a relevant bachelor degree or equivalent and at least five years’ experience in the relevant field.
According to Mnyaka’s curriculum vitae, his highest qualification is a diploma in local government law and administration.
He has also completed a few short courses, in project management, public participation and powerpoint. His BA degree is incomplete. Mnyaka’s only work experience listed in his CV is his current job, since June 2011, and his five years as a Bay councillor between 2006 and 2011.