New committees elected in special council meeting
The position of staff in political offices is as follows:
POLOKWANE – Ramakuntwane Selepe will act as municipal manager for a further three months, as agreed upon in a special council meeting last Tuesday. His appointment as acting municipal manager was to lapse on December 19 after he was appointed in this capacity on September 17 following the then municipal manager, Dikgape Makobe’s resignation. Selepe, who is the director of community services, will now act until March 19, 2022.
Council also granted approval that the vacancy for a new municipal manager be advertised.
In terms of the Municipal Systems Act, No 32 0f 2000, a panel constituting the mayor, a designated councillor, Salga, National Treasury and Coghsta must shortlist and interview potential candidates for the position after which council must then approve the filling of the post.
Position of staff in political offices
In a new development, council rescinded a prior decision that the staff in a political office (mayor and speaker of the council) such as personal assistant, driver and VIP protection officer be linked to the term of the political office bearer. Proposed changes to the old organogram now means that these staff members will be appointed permanently. It was difficult to fill these positions due to the temporary basis of the appointment period. The municipal manager will be authorised to alternatively appoint the support staff to offices of public office bearers through internal secondment of staff or from another municipality.
New chairpersons of committees (MMC):
• Admin and Governance: MMC Zanele Fekelephi Mashalane.
• Housing: MMC Joosuf Pemma.
• Finance: MMC Tsepo Nkwe.
• Local Economic Development, Spatial Planning and Land Use Management: MMC Puleng Roseline Mashangoane
• Energy Provision: MMC Desmond Moloto.
•Waste and Environment: MMC Jennifer Malope.
• Sport, Arts, Culture and Special Programmes: MMC Jerry Mamabolo.
• Roads, Transport and Stormwater: MMC Betty Kgare.
• Community Services: MMC Vivian Shadung.
• Water and Sanitation: MMC Alfred Moakamedi
Lehlogonolo Herman Ngoasheng was elected chairperson of the Municipal Public Accounting Committee (MPAC) after the DA proposed that the MPAC chairperson be elected from opposition parties, as urged by Treasury to consider this, to ensure independence and credibility in the eyes of the public.
This proposal, however, was rejected by the ANC council members.
The chairperson of the ethics committee are Mmathoto Magdeline Molepo; Molepo Andries Shadung chairs the geographical names committee; Zanele Fekelephi Mashalane the Local Labour Forum; and Daniel Modiba the training committee.
Public access to council meetings
Public access to municipal council meetings was a bone of contention during the meeting, with Franco Marx of the DA demanding that the public be allowed access to virtual meetings.
This issue will, however be resolved in the next council meeting after the DA proved that access was not granted on social media, as was earlier stated by the speaker.
