MBOMBELA – The municipal manager (MM) of one of Mpumalanga’s most financially sound municipalities has resigned. Adv Hugh Mbatha resigned as MM of Ehlanzeni District Municipality (EDM) on Wednesday.
His five-year contract was to expire in December. His contract required him to serve a three-month notice period.
According to EDM, his resignation is effective immediately.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) was his last day,” explained EDM spokesman Mr Lucky Ngomane.
He said Mbatha had given three months’ notice and no reason for his resignation.
“The employer agreed with him to pay him for the three months.”
According to Ngomane the head of corporate services Mr Hubert Shabango will act as MM in the interim.
As the accounting officer Mbatha has steered EDM to obtain clean audit opinions from the Auditor-General (AG) for five consecutive years.
The only controversy around him was in 2013 when he got a written warning from his employer after the Public Protector found his conduct surrounding funds during a trip to Italy as maladministration.
Yesterday the municipality said in a statement that the executive mayor
Cllr Letta Shongwe “appreciates the good work he has been committed to throughout his stay with the institution.
“EDM would like to wish (him) well in his future endeavours and hope that he will always give his best professional experience in any field of service.”
The ANC’s provincial and district secretaries could not be reached for comment on Mbatha’s possible redeployment at the time of going to press.
- Read more: EDM’s fourth clean audit, December 5, 2013
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