DURBAN - eThekwini Municipality Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda has assured the public that the process of appointing the city manager was above board.
This comes after there were allegations of ANC interference in the appointment process.
Kaunda said the process of selecting a new city manager was well on track and it was being handled with the sensitivity and care it required.
Speaking at the Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday, Kaunda said he had received correspondence from the Democratic Alliance caucus leader, councillor Nicole Graham, who alleged that there was political interference in the process leading up to the appointment of the city manager.
Kaunda reiterated that the ANC had no role in the appointment of city managers. The only time the ANC ever gets involved in the filling of municipal positions is when it comes to the appointment of mayors, deputy mayors, speakers and ordinary councillors.
“As things stand, the panel has not yet concluded the process. Therefore, we would like to urge everyone to respect the process which is being conducted by a legitimate panel. After all the processes have unfolded, a report will be presented to the Executive Committee for its consideration and the council,” Kaunda said.
Last week Graham had written to Kaunda ahead of the start of the city manager interviews, demanding that he call an urgent Executive Committee meeting after it was alleged that the ANC’s deployment committee met the day before and that three names and a favoured candidate were decided for the eThekwini city manager position.
Graham said that it was alleged that KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala played a key role in this meeting and that the favoured candidate, who is currently a municipal manager on the South Coast, is his selection.
“Zikalala seems increasingly intent on demanding that people of his choosing occupy positions in local government. This is unlawful and despotic behaviour,” Graham said at the time.
“A municipal manager hand-picked by the ANC before the process even starts is not only illegal, it is incredible unethical and a show of poor faith to eThekwini’s people. This city is not political property, it belongs to the people, who increasingly get a terrible deal,” Graham added.
Earlier in the month, Graham had told the Daily News that the DA would be keeping a close eye on the appointment for the new city manager.
This, after Graham said she believed the appointment panel should be as broad as possible.
She said previously interviews for city manager and deputy city manager’s used to include the entire executive committee. The ANC then reduced it, so it’s normally just the mayor and one other member of Exco and then there are other legislated members of the panel.
The DA attempted in last month’s council meeting to rescind the council decision and re-introduce a council decision that expanded it to the whole Exco.
She said it was unfortunate that the ANC and their coalition partners had voted against the recommendation which was narrowly defeated.
In December 2021, the Daily News reported that the municipality had begun searching for a new city manager after it reached a settlement with Sipho Nzuza in July – the former city manager’s contract was supposed to end this month.
The city had advertised its highest paid lucrative post with a salary tag of R2.5 to R3.9 million for the successful applicant.
Daily News