Metro tender department head axed over undeclared gift

THE man in charge of Nelson Mandela Bay’s tender department, Ndimphiwe Mantyontya, was fired by the municipality last month.

Mantyontya, who has been at the helm of the supply chain management department for almost three years, is accused of accepting a gift worth more than R350 from a company contracted to the city.

He also allegedly failed to declare the gift to city manager Johann Mettler and was thus accused of contravening the supply chain management policy.

While the metro is keeping mum about the details of the gift, The Herald understands it involves a Mercedes-Benz ML which Mantyontya was seen driving last year.

It is, however, unclear if the vehicle was purchased for him or lent to him by a supplier who does business with the municipality.

Mantyontya was suspended in December and fired last month after a disciplinary hearing found him guilty of contravening the supply chain management policy.

He said yesterday he was challenging his dismissal at the SA Local Government Bargaining Council.

“As far as I’m concerned, my dismissal was unfair and I’ve referred the matter to the bargaining council, and because of that I can’t discuss it,” Mantyontya said.

He declined to provide further comment about the gift he is accused of having received.

Mettler said Mantyontya was fired for failure to comply with municipal policy.

“He accepted a reward, gift, favour, hospitality and/or other benefit directly or indirectly of a value more than R350 from a supplier on the municipality’s supplier database, and [failed] to declare to the accounting officer the details of any reward, gift, favour, hospitality and/or other benefit promised as contemplated by the municipality’s SCM policy read together with the municipality’s Code of Conduct for supply chain management practitioners and other role players,” Mettler said.

Supply chain official Cynthia Ngxesha is filling in as director until a replacement is hired.