Joe Gqabi municipal boss Williams to step down in interests of good governance
After 16 years at the helm of the Joe Gqabi district municipality as municipal manager, Zolile Williams will resign to take up a leadership role at Calata House.
Williams was a surprise nomination at the weekend’s ANC provincial elective conference, where he beat former Nelson Mandela Bay councillor Andile Lungisa to be elected as the party’s treasurer.
During his time at the helm at Joe Gqabi, the municipality received eight consecutive unqualified audit opinions.
Questions about Williams’ ability to serve as the municipality’s administrative head while also holding political office quickly came to the fore after his conference victory.
A 2011 amendment to the Municipal Systems Act, later struck down by a court, would have precluded this possibility.
“A municipal manager or manager directly accountable to the municipal manager cannot hold political office in a political party, whether in a permanent, temporary or acting capacity,” the amendment read.
It was, however, struck down by the high court in Pretoria on procedural grounds, a decision that was upheld by the Constitutional Court in 2017. But the amendment, which was since been rectified, is back after parliament submitted a new bill to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The bill forbids all municipal staff from serving in political office.
Once the president signs the bill into law, municipal employees will have a year to comply.
Williams, meanwhile, said he would resign from the post for the sake of good governance.
“I do not have to resign because every citizen has a constitutional right of association.
“My duties as a municipal manager are also between office hours, when I have to give my full attention to the municipality.
“The election to treasurer is a part-time post first, but second there is no salary which can speak to a conflict of interest,” he said.
Williams said he would be continuing with his job as municipal manager for the next few weeks until he submitted a handover report to the mayor and council.
Joe Gqabi municipality spokesperson Mcebisi Nonjola said Williams’ election did not affect the municipality because the original amendment had been rescinded.