SINCE the resignation of Ekurhuleni city manager, Khaya Ngema, in August, the metro has been looking for a new person to fill the role.
Ngema resigned just days before he was expected to chair the metro’s first council meeting at a volatile time when there was uncertainty about the future of the metro’s governance.
However, there have already been a few questionable factors regarding the whole recruitment and selection process.
Firstly, the majority of the interviewing panel consists of ANC members. And out of 140 applications received, only three women were shortlisted and the 11 shortlisted candidates are made up of only two races.
The EFF and DA questioned certain factors pertaining to the appointment of a new city manager for the metro during October’s council meeting.
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The panel comprises ANC members finance and economic development MMC, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, MMC for corporate and shared services, Makhosazana Mabaso, and chief whip of council, Jongizizwe Dlabathi.
Also on the panel is chairperson of the community safety oversight committee and member of IRASA, Izak Berg, which formed a coalition with the ANC during the recent local elections. The last person is an external expert, Nompumelelo Ramphomane.
The DA’s representatives on the corporate and shared services oversight committee expressed their unhappiness on the matter as they feel the ANC-led coalition government had disregarded the separation of powers model, which allows oversight committees to discuss issues before they are sent to council for more deliberations and to be passed.
“During the September council meeting, councillors discussed an item requesting permission to establish a committee that would appoint a new city manager. The item was forced through council by the ANC-led coalition,” remarked DA members Shaune le Roux (DA shadow MMC corporate and shared services in Ekurhuleni), Ruhan Robinson (DA member corporate and shared services oversight committee) and Nicola da Silva (DA member corporate and shared services oversight committee) in a statement.
“This item was brought to council without appearing before the committee. This is in contravention of the separation of power model the council adopted.”
The item mentioned a list of names of the people to sit on the committee responsible for appointing the new city manager. This included one non-public representative or Ekurhuleni metro employee as an additional member, as well as the time frame within which the recruitment and selection process was to happen.
“The DA was not afforded the opportunity to nominate its preferred candidate, or interrogate how the additional member was appointed. As a result of this failure to follow procedure, in the October council meeting, this item was brought back to council, this time calling for the changing of the time frames as the committee was unable to meet its planned targets.”
Secondly, only three women were selected to be part of the candidates list.
The EFF argues that, out of 140 applications that were received for the position, only three women were shortlisted.
“Section 9 of our Constitution speaks about equality and that the State may not discriminate against anyone based on race, gender, etc., and this list of shortlisted candidates is undermining our Constitution,” the EFF said in the meeting.
The young party said the metro was not prioritising women.
“Does this mean that out of all 140 applicants, only three women were worthy to be city manager?” the EFF questioned.
Lastly, the 11 candidates are made up of only two races, 10 black and one Coloured.
In response, MMC Mabaso defended the department, ensuring that all due process was followed with regards to shortlisting people who were best suited for the position.
“We looked at the list of requirements which are clearly stated in the items booklet and everyone was selected according to this list,” Mabaso said.
The list of requirements for the position included relevant qualifications, employment equity requirements, managerial experience (including governance, understanding of municipal legislation and transformation) and a financial management track record.
Meanwhile, the DA has also accused the metro of bad planning after the progress report on the appointment had to be delayed. During council meeting, the panel requested that the timelines for the recruitment and selection process be extended from the end of October to the end of November, as they needed to accommodate candidates for interviews.
Although the DA voted against the extension, the request was granted and council is expecting feedback on the matter at the November council meeting.
An enquiry regarding the make-up of the panel as well as lack of gender and racial diversity of the shortlisted candidates has been sent to mayoral spokesperson Zweli Dlamini.
