Phokwane Municipality has indicated that there is no need to extend the contract of the acting municipal manager.
PHOKWANE Municipality has indicated that there is no need to extend the contract of the acting municipal manager Kealeboga Gaborone, after a court order was obtained by the EFF to interdict the appointment of the municipal manager Zithuele Nikani.
Opposition parties believed that proper procedures were not followed when Nikani was appointed where they did not have an opportunity to object or debate whether he satisfied the requirements.
The DA and Freedom Front plus (FF+) stated that the municipality was technically without a municipal manager as Gaborone’s contract had ended and council had not formally re-appointed her as the acting municipal manager at a council sitting.
Phokwane Municipality spokesperson Kgalalelo Letshabo said on Friday Gaborone had been reinstated as ordered by the order issued by the Northern Cape High Court.
“Gaborone was seconded to Phokwane Municipality by Frances Baard District Municipality through Section 88 of Municipal Structures Act in collaboration with the Department of Co-operative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta).
“She was seconded to act until the post of municipal manager is filled. In essence there is no need for the extension of contract as this condition was accepted by council during her secondment to Phokwane Municipality.”
She indicated that 16 councillors attended the meeting when Nikani’s appointment was presented to council on September 3.
“A quorum was formed. The opposition took the matter to court regarding the resolution and the order was granted pertaining to the said council meeting.”
