Former Acting Municipal Manager Mr Mandla Mnguni has just been appointed Municipal Manager of Steve Tshwete Municipality for the next five years, starting September 1.

His appointment follows a marathon sitting which started at 11:00 and ended just a few minutes ago.

Municipal employees agree that Mr Mnguni was the right selection, hoping to bring an end to the ongoing strikes which has crippled the municipality since last September.

Me Mnguni has vast local government experience, having held a shadow municipal manager’s role under one of the town’s most respected former administrative heads, Mr Willie Fouche.

Mr Mnguni ranked most competent out of four candidates by Gijima Holdings, appointed to facilitate scientific competency assessments.

The other candidates were Ms Thokozile Zulu, who scored the highest score of 77 during the lengthy interview process, while Mr Mnguni tied with the remaining two shortlisted candidates, Mothiba Mogofe the municipality’s CFO, and Mr A.S Ntuli from Mthambothini, at 65 points each by the interviewing panel.

Mr Mnguni, however, was ranked most competent only scoring a basic rating on planning and organising and knowledge and information management.

A staggering 59 candidates applied for the position.

Mr Mnguni acted in the position for months, following Mr Fouche’s departure, earning the respect of employees and councillors alike.

Get your copy of the Middelburg Observer, out on Thursday, for more bombshell revelations of today’s sitting.