DEAR Editor,-
The calamitous but unforseen local government election results have led to high levels of unemployment amongst ANC councillors. Both the vagaries of the proportional representation process and the drastic loss of almost 50 municipalities where the ANC no longer governs are responsible for the double ANC whammy.
Recent press reports have indicated that some of the cadres are being redeployed as municipal officials in a workforce that is already bloated.
This puts a question mark over their suitability for the work as municipal officials who have, in theory at least, to possess minimum competency levels in their new jobs; whilst all that is required of councillors is that they are South African citizens.
The Municipal Finance Management Act, as well as the Amended Municipal Systems Act of 2011, require that all officials in the finance department, and some officials in all other departments have to meet minimum standards in skills and qualifications.
To some extent this prescription is already more honoured in the breach than in its observance.
These new engagements are not likely to improve service delivery in any way whilst at the same time serving to drain the resources of the municipality in a non productive way.
D. SNASHALL
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