For a period of about three weeks, Newcastle Local Municipality operated as ‘a ship without a captain’…
And, it would appear, nobody knew about the situation.

The Northern Natal News learned on Monday, August 24, that Newcastle’s municipal manager (MM), Zamani Mcineka, had been on sick leave since August 4 and was expected to return to work on September 3.

The Newcastle council only approved the municipality’s chief financial officer (CFO), Pearl Kubheka, to step in as the acting municipal manager on Friday, August 21, with the municipality welcoming Kubheka into the position on its official Facebook page on Monday, August 24.

This means that for nearly three weeks, from August 4 until August 24 (or, at the very least, until August 21), Newcastle Municipality was operating without an administrative head in place.

There was nobody appointed to oversee the day-to-day operations, work-flow and general functioning of the various municipal departments.

There was no accounting officer in place to take financial responsibility for municipal income and expenditure, and ensure compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).

The main link between the political leaders and the administrative staff was non-existent.
Councillors approached by the Northern Natal News say they had no idea that the municipality was running headless.

They now intend to demand answers at the next council meeting as to who exactly was in charge, the circumstances around Mcineka’s leave of absence, and the reasons why they were not informed sooner that an acting MM needed to be put in place.

Questions surround Mcineka’s absence

In its Facebook post, Newcastle Municipality does not provide any explanation for Mcineka’s absence, nor does it provide any information regarding if or when Mcineka will return, leading to speculation in the comments section that he may have been ousted.

A media query sent to the municipality’s communications director, Musa Ngcobo, on August 24, in this regard, was still unanswered at the time of going to print.

However, the ANC caucus whip, Cllr Maqili Hlatshwayo; chairperson of the municipality’s Portfolio Committee for Development Planning & Human Settlements, Cllr Bertie Meiring; chairperson of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee, Bebsie Cronjé; and speaker of the council, Thengi Zulu, confirmed that Mcineka was on ‘sick leave’.

Hlatshwayo admitted feeling sceptical about Mcineka having taken sick leave, saying that, as far as he is aware, a medical certificate was not produced.

Municipal sources, who spoke to the Northern Natal News on condition of anonymity, say Mcineka’s leave followed apparent discord between himself and Newcastle Mayor Xolani Dube.

The town’s residents openly speculated on social media platforms that Mcineka may be under pressure from the ongoing Hawks investigation into the financial affairs of the municipality.

Like Hlatshwayo, Cronjé said she has also not had sight of a sick note pertaining to Mcineka’s leave, nor did Meiring.

However, Cronjé added that she was ‘100% for Pearl Kubheka’ in the position of acting MM while Mcineka was away.

“Pearl was with us when we appeared before cabinet to discuss the financial situation of the municipality.

“She understands that the situation is dire and that cost-cutting measures need to be put in place, so she has our support,” said Cronjé, referring to the DA, the party Cronjé represents in the Newcastle council.

Meiring admitted that the situation made ‘no sense’ to him.

“The fact that there was a vacuum after Mcineka went on leave and before Kubheka was appointed is a serious concern that I intend to raise at the next council meeting,” said Meiring.

“Regarding the appointment of Kubheka as acting MM, I think she is doing well.

“I don’t think the municipal officials will get away with reckless spending under her.”

Hlathswayo also said he was confident in Kubheka’s ability to manage the municipality, but had voiced his concern in council that the CFO could not also occupy the position as acting MM if there is to be proper oversight.

“After a two-hour-long debate on the matter, the council agreed to appoint Mfanafuthi Ndlovu (an employee in the Budget and Treasury Office) as the acting CFO, while Kubheka occupied the position as acting MM,” Hlatshwayo explained.

“The ANC caucus agrees with Kubheka’s candidature because her academic record and her experience definitely qualify her for the position,” he added.

Speaker disputes leadership ‘vacuum’

Responding to councillors’ concerns, Speaker Thengi Zulu said ‘it simply isn’t true’ to say that there was ‘a vacuum’.

“According to my understanding, it’s totally incorrect to say that there was no administrative head in place because, despite being on sick leave, Mcineka was still coming in to work.

“He was the one who was signing any documents that needed to be signed and, even though he wasn’t feeling well, he was even taking work home.

“We would only have had to appoint an acting MM if he wasn’t coming in at all,” said Zulu.

“While Kubheka is appointed as acting MM, I have no doubt in her ability to run the municipality. She is a well experienced person.”

Chairperson of the Newcastle and District Residents Forum (NDRF), Matthew Shunmugam, nonetheless expressed concern over the fact that there appears to have been a vacuum in the municipality, in which there was no administrative head in place.

“The municipal manager’s position is critical to everything.

“The council needs to take the mayor to task about this,” said Shunmugam.

Ferdie Alberts, who spoke on behalf of AfriForum, agreed that, “If the MM leaves the office even for a day, they (council) must appoint someone to act in the position.”

The news provided to you in this link has been investigated and compiled by the editorial staff of the Newcastle Advertiser, a sold newspaper distributed in the Newcastle area. Please follow us on Youtube and feel free to like, comment, and subscribe. For more local news, visit our webpage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and follow us on our WhatsApp Channel.