Siyathemba municipality flouting Municipal Systems Act

Harold Mcgluwa, MPL
DA Northern Cape: Provincial Chairperson
082 383 6914

The Democratic Alliance is vehemently opposed to the intended appointment of former Sol Plaatje mayor, Patrick Lenyibi, to the post of municipal manager of Siyathemba municipality in Prieska and will seek advice to counter his appointment if it is indeed approved.

Whilst the post was advertised earlier this year, after the former municipal manager resigned, processes surrounding the short listing and interviews were shrouded in secrecy. This to such an extent that DA Siyathemba councillor, Gregory Mackay, was only informed of the intended appointment of Lenyibi yesterday, after receiving the agenda of a special council meeting scheduled for 10 am tomorrow (Thursday, 29 November 2012), at which Lenyibi’s appointment is set to be approved by council.

Lenyibi previously served as mayor of Sol Plaatje municipality and was one of a series of ANC political role players responsible for the demise of this municipality, which has since become characterized by disclaimers and severe maintenance backlogs of bulk infrastructure. Lenyibi is also currently implicated in a corruption case relating to a fraudulent tender, which is scheduled to be proceed in court next year.

Lenyibi recently tried his hand at securing the post of municipal manager of Sol Plaatje municipality. This post, however, remains earmarked for Goolam Akharwaray. It is thus the DA’s submission that, through his politically connectedness, Lenyibi, was instead deployed to head up the municipality in Prieska. However, whether Lenyibi has the necessary skills and qualifications to fill this position, as required by Local Government Municipal Systems Amendment Act, is questionable. The act expressly states that a municipal manager must have the skills, expertise, competences and qualifications prescribed for the post. It further states that any appointment of a municipal manager and any contract of employment entered into between the municipality and the municipal manager is null and void if the appointed person does not have the prescribed skills, expertise, competence and qualifications or the appointment was made in contravention of the Amendment Act.

The DA finds it completely unacceptable that the current administration is so blatantly willing to flout the law at the expense of service delivery. Councillor Mackay will vote against the appointment at tomorrow’s council meeting. Should the appointment go ahead, we will not hesitate to seek advice to put a stop to this foolishness. Unlike the ruling party, the DA will stand up for the people of the province and not for political cadres.