Political confusion over appointment
The readvertisement of the post, which had cost the reportedly broke municipality over R30 000, had already appeared in the weekend's City Press.
The Umjindi Local Municipality has finally overruled the appointment of Nicolaas Vermeulen as the council director for spatial planning and human settlements. Vermeulen came second during the interviewing process on November 4, 2013.
Former acting director for civil services, Decia Matumba had initially came first. However, she resigned during January this year and went on to join the South African Local Government Association. That was just before she could be formally appointed on January 30.
Umjindi executive mayor, Cllr Lazaros Mashaba had previously said that the post would be readvertised and Vermeulen, who came second, would not be considered.
This after the Democratic Alliance in Umjindi had requested the ANC-led municipality to save costs and appoint Vermeulen, but that appeard to have fallen on deaf ears.
The readvertisement of the post, which had cost the reportedly broke municipality over R30 000, had already appeared in the weekend’s City Press.
Umjindi spokesman, Sam Jele, confirmed the fact and was waiting for interested candidates to apply.
“We also wish to mention that council reserves the right to appoint a director in terms of Section 56 (1)(A) of the Local Government Municipal Systems Amendment Act, 2011 (Act No 7 of 2011),” said Jele in a prepared statement without elaborating on it.
Jele respond to questions about how much was spent to readvertise the post by saying, “The cost and any other issues are an internal process and are within the prescribed procedures in terms of human resource policy.”
Barberton Times had spoken to two councillors, who declined to be identified. They said the ANC leadership was undermining municipal processes.
“The party overrides or confirms appointments that should be the business of council process.
“In most cases these related to senior management appointment across the municipality and government departments.
Another former councillor, whose name is known to Barberton Times, but is afraid of being charged said, “The ANC always allows a situation in which councillors abuse the authority of their offices. If they want you appointed to a position, whether you qualify or not, they have a way of appointing you,” said the councillor.
Philip Minnaar of the DA was quoted, “The ANC has decided to readvertise the post because Vermeulen was not approved by the ANC deployment committee.
“After the appointment, the ruling party will declare the process as free, fair and transparent.
“It clearly doesn’t adhere to any form of open-opportunity society where everybody has equal rights and opportunities,”said Minnaar.
