Maile must provide clarity on ELM MM’s suspension: DA
The DA said that it believes that Leseane should face the consequences of his actions.
SEDIBENG.- The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has called on Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Lebogang Maile, to provide clarity regarding the suspension and lifting thereof of the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) Municipal Manager, Lucky Leseane.
Leseane was recently suspended following the ELM Council’s resolution to suspend him after he apparently implemented salary increases for ELM employees before the Council,which is the highest decision-making body in the ELM, had taken a resolution on the matter. The DA said that it has been reliably informed that the ELM Council had two options with regards to the employees’ salary increases due to the fact that the municipality is facing a serious cash flow problem.
“The first option was to apply for exemption, which means that the salary increases would be deferred to the next financial year with the hope that the municipality’s finances would have improved.
“The second option was to give employees half of the 6,25 percent increase from July to December 2020 and the other half from January to June 2021,” said the DA.
It is alleged that MEC Maile advised the ELM Executive Mayor, Gift Moerane to lift the suspension of Leaseane because the Council did not follow proper procedures in suspending him and that the process was unlawful.
“The DA is in possession of a letter from the office of the Acting Emfuleni Mayor, Cllr Khethiwe Ntombela addressed to the Speaker, Whip of Council, Members of the Mayoral Committee and Executive Members informing them that the Executive Director, Vincent Campbell will be the Acting Municipal Manager from 2 to 14 October 2020.”
The letter apparently does not explain whether the Municipal Manager, Lucky Leseane, is currently on suspension or on leave.
The DA said that it believes that Leseane should face the consequences of his actions.
“We call on MEC Maile to urgently provide clarity on the matter and to ensure that Leseane is held accountable for implementing salary increases of employees before any Council resolution was taken. The DA will be tabling questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) to ascertain why Leseane’s suspension was lifted, which procedures were not followed in suspending Leseane, what actions will be taken against Leseane and who will be responsible for these actions.”
