HIGHVELD – Mr Felani Mndebele, suspended municipal manager of Govan Mbeki Municipality, claimed that political interference from the executive mayor has made it impossible for him to effectively do his job.
He revealed this in his letter to the council stating reasons why he should not be suspended.
Ms Thandi Ngxonono, executive mayor, recommended that Mr Mndebele be placed on precautionary suspension due to non-performance.
The ANC supported this recommendation and Mr Mndebele was subsequently suspended on 3 September.
Also read: ANC caucus votes Govan Mbeki MM out
Rumour now has it that this was Ms Ngxonono’s last political manoeuvre before being deployed to the Gert Sibande District Municipality.
According to sources within the municipality, the Ms Ngxonono has resigned as executive mayor of Govan Mbeki Municipality.
Ms Ngxonono told the Ridge Times on Monday to speak to her later in the week as she was at the time too busy with what the ANC has deployed her to do.
“I am very busy, please wait I will speak to you soon. “For now I am still occupying the office of the executive mayor,” giggled Ms Ngxonono.
She wanted Mr Mndebele to be suspended, claiming that he did a poor job as municipal manager.
Mr Mndebele’s response to these allegations were heard during a virtual extra ordinary council meeting on Wednesday, 2, September.
He disputed all allegations levelled against him.
“Since my appointment, there has been massive political interference meted out by the executive mayor on the following issues: recruitment, appointment of staff, the appointment of service providers to do business with Council and the payment of service providers.”
“I want to state that more information will be revealed in a properly constituted disciplinary tribunal.
“This has made my day-to-day running of the municipality to be impossible. I could not effectively carry out my duties as I was expected to consult with her. If I do not, I am labelled as a delinquent or threatened with my job.”
There were also allegations made that the MM and officials failed to deliver services to residents due to negligence, such as daily load shedding, no removal of refuse and a serious backlog on most of the services that the municipality is suppose to deliver to the people.
Mr Mndebele said load shedding has nothing to do with him and his administration, claiming it has been caused by the Eskom’s notified maximum demand.
He said waste is removed on a weekly basis, although sometimes backlogs because the operational fleet is below 50 per cent. There are also numerous projects to address the issue of sewer spills.
Ms Ngxonono said the responses of the MM do not provide adequate reasons why he should not be placed on precautionary suspension.
She said the allegation made by the MM in his submission must be referred for investigation to an independent investigator. Ms Ngxonono recommended that Mr Mndebele be placed on “precautionary suspension” with full pay. Opposition parties were unhappy with Ms Ngxonono’s recommendations.
Ms Ciska Jordaan, DA caucus leader, said what the MM has revealed is what they have always suspected and raised in the previous council meeting.
“The DA is deeply disturbed by the allegations that there is massive political interference meted by the executive mayor in a number of matters and that the MM was expected to consult with the executive mayor on all decisions to be taken.”
“These are allegations of high-level corruption and a criminal offence that is liable to a fine or imprisonment according to section 119 of the Municipal Systems Act and should be investigated.” The EFF also rejected the suspension of the MM.
Also read: Opposition parties support suspended Govan Mbeki MM
The opposition parties withdrew from the council meeting and the meeting was moved to the next day after it did not form the quorum. They said the mayor should be kicked out, not Mr Mndebele.
The ANC used its majority to oust Mr Mndebele after opposition parties refused to take part in the meeting on Thursday, 3 September. Ms Elizabeth “Lizzy” Tshabalala, director for Community Services was appointed as the acting municipal manager.
