EMLM appoints MM despite opposition
FORMER Amatole District Municipality (ADM) municipal manager (MM) Chris Magwangqana was appointed as the new Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) MM despite protests by opposition parties in an ordinary council meeting on Wednesday.
A debate took place in a closed session on whether his background check fitted what opposition parties deemed as “the right person for the job”.
This relates to an investigation into a R631-million sanitation scandal while he was the ADM MM.
UDM councillor Mthuthuzeli Hokolo said the party was against the appointment based on the breaking of the rules of order.
“The rules indicate that if an item is not on the agenda it cannot be debated in a council meeting. The appointment of the MM was not. The DA had submitted a vote of no confidence against the mayor and speaker but were told by the speaker that motions would not be discussed as they were not on the agenda. We expected the same treatment in the matter of the MM.
“To show that we are led by hooligans, the confidential item was changed to be an addendum to suit what the speaker and the ANC wanted. It's shocking that council would appoint someone implicated in a toilet scandal worth half a billion to lead a municipality with immense problems.”
Squabbles arose during the meeting when speaker Mzoxolo Peter did not give provision for the tabling of a motion of no confidence by the DA against him and executive mayor Lindiwe Gunuza-Nkwentsa, as well as a motion by the EFF against chief whip Funeka Sopapazi to be discussed.
The DA said EMLM strategic executive officer Donovan van Wyk was called to the meeting to reprint the sheet containing information about Magwangqana's appointment, which initially indicated that the document was confidential and changed it to an addendum so it could be discussed.
During the open session, the speaker was asked about why he had not put items relating to the MM’s appointment and the motions of no confidence on the agenda.
“I plead with council that motions be discussed in the next council meeting next year. We are running out of time and we still have other pertinent issues to discuss,” he replied.
EFF councillor Luthando Amos said they would challenge the MM appointment in court after consulting their national and provincial offices.
“We can not have an MM with a criminal element and hope he will deliver the municipality from bankruptcy.”
DA councillor Malibongwe Xhelisilo said the DA would back taking the matter to court. “I submitted a letter highlighting flaws in the MM advert and asked that the matter be discussed in council but it was not. Council advertised a contract of five years, which means Magwangqana will be MM until 2023 and by then, elections for a new council will have been done. Magwangqana got “basic” (as a grading) in the category of change management.
“What I read in the papers about words uttered by the ANC provincial chairman about ill-discipline in the ANC, is true. We are led by gangsters and immature people.”
Peter said the council worked on the principle of presumption of innocence until proven guilty. When asked about not adhering to the rules of council, he said, “The rules indicate that if there is an important matter left out of the agenda that would jeopardise the function of the institution, we make an addendum to allow the issue to be discussed.
“The motions were not dealt with because they are not urgent – they will be discussed in the next council meeting. The municipality needs the MM to start immediately. Acting MM Mzoxolo Dingani will write to the Cogta MEC to tell him about the appointment.”