ADM municipal manager’s appointment a travesty, says Ngcukayitobi

The ANC in the Eastern Cape has described the reappointment of the Amathole district municipal manager as being the antithesis of everything that an ethical and developmental local government stands for.

This after ADM, despite poor audit outcomes, allegations of misconduct and breaches of the statutory responsibilities, reappointed Dr Thandekile Mnyimba as the municipal manager for a further five years.

His appointment was endorsed in a closed ADM council session on Monday, with opposition party members opposing Mnyimba’s reappointment because they had not seen the interview panel’s report, which was supposed to be circulated to all councillors before the council endorsement.

In a statement on Monday, ADM spokesperson Noni Madikizela-Vuso said the council had discussed two matters related to Mnyimba’s appointment and the provision of security services for councillor Nanziwe Rulashe.

“Council has, in its sitting today [Monday], noted a report by the executive mayor councillor Nceba Ndikinda on the provision of security services to councillor Rulashe.

“The contents of the report cannot be divulged to the public as the private investigation into the case is still ongoing,” she said.

“Last on the agenda was the recruitment of the municipal manager effective from June 1 2022.

“Council noted the report on the recruitment process followed in the appointment of the municipal manager, it further approved the appointment of the highest-scoring candidate, in this case Dr Thandekile Mnyimba,” Madikizela-Vuso said.

ANC provincial secretary Lulama Ngcukayitobi said Mnyimba’s appointment was at odds with the intention of both effective and clean governance.

“The ANC rejects his appointment as it presents an antithesis of everything that an ethical and developmental local government stands for.

“The municipality is in ruins under his stewardship and there is no labour peace at all in that municipality.

“The ANC leadership instructed the municipality not to go ahead with this appointment.

“His appointment is at odds with the intention of both effective and clean governance.”

ADM DA councillor Jean Lombard said the party’s opposition to the appointment had to do with the processes followed.

“We were against the appointment because the majority of councillors agreed to the candidate with the highest score to be appointed but it is usual that confidential reports are circulated for all councillors to see.

“It was on this [basis] the DA decided to oppose as we had not seen the [interview] panel’s report.

“The report was then given to us.

“It was under five minutes that we were given to look at it and there was no discussion after that as the resolution of appointment had already been carried by the majority.”