The general manager of local economic development, Phetole Sithole, was appointed as the acting executive director for infrastructure and services at Sol Plaatje Municipality during a special council meeting after opposition parties staged a walkout.
THE GENERAL manager of local economic development, Phetole Sithole, was appointed as the acting executive director for infrastructure and services at Sol Plaatje Municipality during a special council meeting after opposition parties staged a walkout on February 3.
The position became vacant on February 1 when the contract of Boy Dhluwayo came to an end.
However, the spokesperson for the Office of the Mayor, Keobakile Musunse, said on Tuesday that the municipal manager, Thapelo Matlala, was acting as the executive director (ED) for infrastructure as well as the acting executive director for corporate services.
It is believed that the acting executive director for corporate services, George Mosiemane, was suspended.
Opposition parties as well as the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) believe that Sithole does not possess the qualifications or skills to act in the position.
Sithole claims to have a PhD in Economics, specialising in local economic development.
According to council records, the names of Sithole and Tebogo Matolo were proposed during a confidential item, where everyone in the gallery was instructed to excuse themselves on February 3.
Opposition councillors refused to vote on the two candidates that were put forward until they were provided with their qualifications, technical expertise and experience.
During the meeting, the Speaker alluded that the qualifications were “bulky documents” and indicated that an acting official should be appointed until the post was advertised.
She also advised councillors that they could abstain from voting.
Numerous points of order were raised and chaos erupted, where the opposition parties – the DA, EFF, FF+, Sol Plaatje Service Delivery Forum (SPSDF) and the PA, with the exception of Good councillors, left the chamber.
Council records stated that 34 councillors were left to vote in Sithole as the acting ED infrastructure and services.
It was noted that the disciplinary committee would meet to discuss the “disruptive behaviour of councillors” who returned to the meeting after they had left, where no security officials were present to “control the situation”.
DA councillor Christopher Phiri was concerned that the ANC was trying to steamroll the appointment.
“The appointment must be declared null and void. National Treasury allocated R2.3 billion to address the ailing water infrastructure of the city. A specific individual is being pushed into this position to facilitate the diversion of these funds for political gain, instead of addressing urgent water challenges,” said Phiri.
He stated that Matolo was a more suitable candidate as he was employed in the directorate of infrastructure.
Phiri pointed out that it was necessary to be provided with information to determine whether the candidates met the requirements and to avoid legal consequences.
“The candidate must have the requisite qualifications even if they are appointed in an acting capacity. We were unable to vote because we do not know what their qualifications or suitability for the position are.”
EFF councillor Pontsho Mocwana indicated that they would approach the court if the municipal manager did not declare the appointment invalid and unprocedural.
“There is no proof that the remaining councillors formed a quorum as the attendance register was torn up by an ANC councillor after the EFF wrote on the register that it was an illegal appointment.”
SPSDF party leader Dennis Pienaar believed that the acting official should be competent and meet the requirements.
“The Speaker was not impartial and sided with the ruling party. Instead of appointing someone from within infrastructure, they want to appoint someone from a different section. Having acted in this position in the past does not make Sithole eligible to be the appointed candidate.”
FF+ councillor Johan Smit pointed out that when Sithole was previously acting in this position, it had been “a disaster”.
FF+ chief whip Kobus van den Berg remarked that it was not within the council’s ambit to appoint an acting official.
“It should be the prerogative of the municipal manager to find the most suitable candidate.”
He advised the municipal manager to appoint a task team to assist with infrastructure matters until the water issues have been resolved.
PA councillor Monique Philander stated that they could not vote on vague items that did not have clarity.
“It would be irresponsible and the PA will not be a party to such uninformed decisions.”
Samwu local chairperson Daily Semau indicated that a number of deviations were processed while Sithole was previously acting in the position.
“During his tenure, there was no improvement to service delivery, the leaking sewage and burst pipes. We are still being forced to drink dirty water. We want someone who is qualified to act in this position. Should there not be a suitable person, then provincial, national or any other municipality can second a person with the relevant competencies to act in the vacant post for a specified period.”
Semau added that the union had written to the municipal manager last month regarding the non-implementation of staff regulations and acting appointments.
The spokesperson for the Office of the Mayor, Keobakile Musunse, said the special council meeting that was held on February 3 to table the appointment of an acting executive director for infrastructure and services was disrupted by unruly members of the opposition.
“The executive mayor refutes all claims that the ANC wanted to appoint an incompetent candidate for the position,” said Musunse.
“The EFF walked out of the chambers even before the municipal manager could make the presentation. Therefore the EFF should not mislead the community into believing that ANC councillors wanted to appoint an incompetent candidate.”
She added that two candidates were nominated by the ANC and the DA for the position.
“Council was still awaiting a presentation on the competency, qualifications and skills of each candidate nominated by the municipal manager when they staged a walkout.”
