MBOMBELA – The municipality says it is responding to challenges and the needs of the community. Cllr Sibusiso Mathonsi, executive mayor, responded this week to a report in last week’s Lowvelder about the state of the municipality. He explained that the document was a working one and Mbombela Local Municipality (MLM) was addressing the challenges set out therein.
“Any organisation’s human resources structure should be dynamic to always reflect adaptation to environmental forces, the needs of its clients, and strategies. The fact that the structure of the municipality is under review does not mean that it is in disarray and that clear reporting lines are not defined. It merely shows that we are responding to our challenges and needs of our communities,” Mathonsi said.
He said the organogram which reflected the above mentioned requirements had been approved by council. “All managers have clear administrative and financial delegations and a register of delegations was compiled for this purpose. It is currently under revision by the office of the CFO.”
He added that the executive management met every Monday and further pointed out that the staff growth plan was not 163 per cent as reported, but a mere 7,6 per cent on June 5.
“All policies must be adhered to and consequence management is done according to the South African Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC) and Systems Act Regulations regarding disciplinary procedures. The recruitment and selection of required staff is currently addressed and numerous recruitment drives took place since the beginning of July.”
Mathonsi said skills transfers were being addressed by means of various programmes according to MLM’s workplace skills plan and numerous interns, students, and bursary holders employed by the municipality. “All positions’ job descriptions were updated as early as end of June and the statement that functions are not clarified, is not true.”
At the moment, 88 per cent of funded positions are filled and a skills audit which was embarked on in the previous financial year, is in its final stages. An organisation-wide review will also be conducted to address correct skills matching with job requirement.
“The overtime policy has been reviewed and measures such as a work-study investigation are underway to identify any overtime challenges,” the mayor concluded.
• Regarding the mayoral vehicle, Mathonsi explained that the Mercedes-Benz ML350 used by his predeseccor was leased through Absa. It was expected to cover 3 000 kilometers per month but travelled in excess of 5 000 kilometers, which led to it reaching its factory allocated maintenance contract kilometers prematurely.
“This would have meant that any damage to the vehicles would have been paid by the municipality and as such was not budgeted for.” He added that the previous lease contract was for 48 months but the vehicle reached 120 000 kilometers in the 18th month.
“The new vehicle will also be leased through Absa, and it is therefore incorrect to say it goes through Kunene Dealership in Gauteng. Absa has the liberty to choose any dealership in acquiring the vehicles, hence the municipality is not involved in that regard.
“The vehicles will be leased for a period of 24 months at 5 000 kilometers per month. The lease amount in the article is correctly stated as it was part of the council report. It is also recommended that the new mayoral vehicle be linked with the term of the current administration as to ensure that when a new administration comes in a news vehicle is made available.”
