MBOMBELA – The disciplinary action against a municipal official has been dragging for months. Mr Joseph Ngala, spokesman for Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM), confirmed last week that disciplinary processes against Mr Rasheed Matola, director of community services at MLM was still ongoing.
Disciplinary processes against Matola and the former municipal manager (MM) Mr Xolani Mzobe were first recommended in November last year by the former MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta), Mr Simon Skhosana.
The department had conducted an investigation into the municipality’s finances and governance and Skhosana verbally presented his report to councillors who were asked to leave their phones at the door during the meeting.
The report was related to spending and procurement during the Orange Afcon tournament Mbombela co-hosted in January and February of last year. Both men were placed on precautionary suspension.
Mzobe has since been fired, while “the disciplinary process against Matola has begun and is still continuing but not concluded”, according to Ngala. “After finalisation of the process, the outcomes will be tabled before council for consideration and resolution.”
The six-month term of the acting MM, Mr Sello Ditshego has recently been renewed for another six months. The municipality insists it has prioritised the appointment of a chief financial officer (CFO), a position that has been vacant for more than a year.
“The process of the appointment of the CFO was prioritised by the new administration as indicated by the executive mayor Mr Sibusiso Mathonsi in his speech when he presented his cabinet to council. Interviews have been concluded and the report on the recommended candidate will have to be tabled before council for consideration and endorsement,” Ngala said.
Council is to have its next ordinary meeting on July 31.
