Durban - Tension is brewing between eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede and city manager Sibusiso Sithole just as Sithole’s contract is about to expire on December 31.
Sithole told the Sunday Tribune that he had reapplied for the job. He would not comment further, saying it would appear to some as a “self-serving” move. But while he may want to hold on to his job, sources said he was expected to get the boot.
Some cited his strained relationship with the mayor, while others said Gumede was lobbying for her own candidate. The ruling party in the council, and the mayor, have the power to renew the contract.
Several names, including that of Vincent Cebekhulu, are being touted to take over the job. But Cebekhulu, who is head of community participation and action support, laughed off these claims, saying he had not applied.
Applications for the post closed last Friday.
“Zandile (Gumede) will not consider Sithole. I know they don’t see eye-to-eye on many issues and she wants to put in her own person as city manager,’’ said a source who did not want to be named.
Gumede inherited Sithole and other senior managers from previous mayor James Nxumalo whose term ended on August 3, the day of the local government elections.
Nxumalo is currently unemployed and focusing on his studies.
When Gumede took the reins, she assembled her “crack team” aimed at ensuring that the city delivered on its plans for critical interventions. The team was cited as a trigger for the fallout between Sithole and Gumede.
Sithole was against its terms of reference.
“He does not toe the line, that is why his contract will not be renewed,” said an official who also did not want his name to be disclosed.
Recently, Sithole issued a memorandum instructing the management and staff in the municipality not to co-operate with the “crack team”. Sithole said the terms of reference for the “crack team” were contrary to the roles that are supposed to be played by such a team.
There were also concerns from the business sector that the “crack team” created uncertainty, said Sithole.
An ANC councillor who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “She (Gumede) would not even consider the option of lobbying for the renewal of his contract because she wants him out.
“Former city manager Mike Sutcliffe’s contract was renewed because he had done a sterling job during his tenure. I think Sithole’s contract should have been renewed because he has done a superb job.”
A senior official lauded Sithole for his achievements, including steering the city to the first clean audit in 16 years.
“He is the best manager we have had in the municipality. This does not mean I don’t recognise contributions made by his predecessors.”
Sithole joined the city in 2011, at a time of the Manase report which implicated senior officials including then mayor Obed Mlaba. He then had to implement the recommendations of the report.
As head of administration, the municipal manager is responsible for the policy directions of the municipal council.
When he joined eThekwini municipality, Sithole was highly-praised for taking uMsunduzi Municipality “out of ICU” after he turned around its financial affairs which were on the brink of collapse. He left the uMsunduzi council stable.
Applicants will be interviewed by members of the executive committee. Gumede could not be reached for comment and she did not respond to text messages.
Sunday Tribune