Opposition parties in J.B. Marks are up in arms regarding the appointment of the new Municipal Manager (MM) Mr Kgomotso Kumbe.

Kumbe, who was the previous acting CFO, was appointed on Tuesday, 1 August during a heated Council Sitting. Kumbe will move into the position that the acting MM, mr. Sandile Tyatya held.

The council also heard during the session that the acting municipal manager had filed a criminal case against the candidate who was finally proposed by the ANC.

The DA and FF Plus in the JB Marks Local Municipality rejects the appointment of Kumbe, which was pushed through Council yesterday evening by the ANC-PA alliance supported by the EFF. The meeting which started at 09:00 only ended at around 18:30.

“We are definitely against the appointment of the municipal manager and have given full reasons for it. The FF Plus objected to the appointment of any of the three candidates proposed by the Executive Mayor. During the meeting, the FF Plus provided full reasons why none of the three candidates were suitable for appointment, referring to the defective process followed by the selection panel, of which, among others, the Executive Mayor and another ANC councillor formed part,” stated stated Marlene Steyn du Toit, FF Plus councillor in JB Marks.

“The DA conducted our own background check on all three candidates and is confident that none of them meet the minimum requirement or qualifications for the municipal manager position. It appears that each one of the candidates either has left a previous employment position under a cloud and appears to be or was under investigation related to financial misconduct,” stated DA Caucus leader in JB Marks, Johni Steenkamp.

According to Steenkamp, this appointment only furthers the interests of the ANC while in office and not the interests of JB Marks residents.

“The DA is of the view that the screening and selection processes followed were not fairly conducted and were not in accordance with legislation. We repeatedly cautioned the Executive Mayor, Cllr Gaba Thithiba Ka Qhele, and the Speaker, Cllr Moithoesi Rosy Dassie, that this appointment may result in further legal action,” added Steenkamp.

When the appointment came to the vote in Council yesterday, the DA and FF Plus called for a division to allow every Councillor to record their support or opposition to the appointment.

The DA and Freedom Front Plus voted against the appointment.

The FF Plus also warned that councillors who vote in favour of the appointment of a municipal manager, contrary to municipal legislation, are guilty of a breach of the Code of Conduct for Councillors and can be held liable in their personal capacity. It was the recommendation and official proposal of the FF Plus that the post should be advertised from scratch and the selection process should start from scratch.

“The FF Plus will insist that justice must take its course, with reference to the criminal case that has been opened against the newly elected municipal manager and also, within the council, insist that a proper investigation takes place,” stated Steyn du Toit.

“The JB Marks Local Municipality, as is the case with most North West Municipalities, has a shameful history with ANC cadres deployed in senior municipal positions. The former JB Marks municipal manager was first suspended and then dismissed due to serious irregularities relating to financial misconduct,” said Steenkamp.

“We wish Mr Kumbe well in this new endeavour, and as employees, we will provide him with the necessary support as the Head of the Institution,” stated municipal spokesperson, Jeanette Tshite.