In an about turn the ANC in the Northern Cape has ‘endorsed’ Patrick Mabilo’s decision to retain the current acting municipal manager and chief financial officer.
IN A TURN of events, the ANC in the Northern Cape has sided with the decision of Sol Plaatje executive mayor Patrick Mabilo to retain the acting municipal manager, Thami Mabija, and acting chief financial officer (CFO), Zahid Cader.
This follows after officials had apparently instructed that the locks to Mabija and Cader’s offices should be changed and that security should prevent them from entering the municipal building.
In a circular dated May 8, the executive director of Corporate Services, Ruth Sebolecwe, placed her stamp of approval for Boy Dhluwayo to be appointed as the new acting municipal manager, as per the decision taken during a special council meeting.
He was to act in the position as from April 29, for the next three months.
Kenneth Samolapo was appointed as the acting CFO on May 5, effective as from April 30, for the next three months.
The South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) opened charges of contravening the Disaster Management Act, for convening an illegal gathering during the national lockdown.
The DA also challenged the appointment of Dhluwayo and that of the acting Speaker.
Mabilo last week informed councillors that the special council meeting, where a decision was taken to appoint Dhluwayo, had been declared null and void.
According to the minutes of the meeting, the acting Speaker, Petrus Mohapi, stated that the meeting was legal, where a quorum of 46 councillors (28 in chamber and 18 online) abided by the legislation.
He stated that, in terms of the Constitution, provincial and national governments could not compromise their functions in regards to the functioning of the municipality.
“The executive mayor cannot appoint anyone in council. In terms of the Municipal Structures Act, council is the highest decision-making body.”
ANC provincial secretary Deshi Ngxanga stated that the regional leadership of the ANC Frances Baard region had met with the mayor and administrative leadership of Sol Plaatje Municipality on Monday.
“The meeting was convened to discuss the recently held council meeting that was convened during the coronavirus lockdown. The meeting was in direct contravention of the regulations as set out in the Disaster Management Act,” said Ngxanga.
He added that ANC provincial officials had advised its deployees to strictly abide by the Covid-19 regulations.
“This is not only to the benefit of themselves but to the communities which they are entrusted to serve.”
Ngxanga indicated that Mabija and Cader would remain as the acting municipal manager and the acting CFO respectively until May 31.
“Subsequently, an assessment will be made pursuant to the submission of a report by the two officials.”
