Durban - With only three months remaining in the eThekwini city manager’s contract, Sbu Sithole is in limbo - uncertain if his services will be retained or if he will be asked to vacate the position.
Now Sithole, in a close-out report of the previous administration, has alerted new mayor Zandile Gumede and her executive committee to the predicament.
Sithole’s total salary package is R3.1 million. It comprises a R2.7 million annual salary, R1 872 contributions, R180 000 in allowances and R192 000 in performance bonuses.
In a nine-page document, Sithole highlights 27 issues that former mayor James Nxumalo’s administration was dealing with that needed “further deliberation”.
Among these, under the human resources item, was his five-year contract that expires on December 31.
The Mercury understands from various city sources that Sithole’s future is “unclear”.
In the report, Sithole said the council needed to note the pending contract expiry and “as a courtesy” communicate its decision on whether this contract would be renewed or not”.
This needed to be communicated timeously, “to enable the incumbent to plan his life in advance and ensure a smooth transition in terms of the administration”.
Municipal spokeswoman Tozi Mthethwa on Thursday refused to be drawn on the matter.
“eThewkini does not discuss internal matters with a third party as these matters are strictly confidential between the employer and employee,” she said in a statement.
“If and when there are labour-related issues, we raise those concerns with the employee concerned.”
Sithole has refused to be drawn on his future, saying the query should be directed to his political principals.
Sithole took over the reins from Michael Sutcliffe in 2011. Nxumalo was elected city mayor that same year.
Sutcliffe had been in the post for two five-year terms, alongside former Durban mayor Obed Mlaba.
Sithole’s position is not the only senior position Gumede and her executive will have to fill before February next year, as she had promised would happen in her inaugural speech last month. Three critical senior positions have been vacant for years.
“The previous council did not conclude the issue of the appointment of the chief operating officer. It is going to be critical that the matter be resolved soonest. Secondly, there is a need to fill critical vacancies in respect of DCMs for economic development and planning and human settlement, engineering and transport,” Sithole’s report reads.
Another issue Gumede needs to tackle is the implementation of “catalytic projects”, as these “facilitate investments and ensure job creation and growing of the city’s economy”.
IFP councillor Mdu Nkosi said the city’s executive committee needed to deliberate on Sithole’s performance.
“We need to use the time remaining effectively. We need to look at what he has and has not achieved.
“We’ll scrutinise his performance and come up with a clear conclusion,” he said.
Zwakele Mncwango, DA eThekwini caucus leader, said his party would wait to see the ANC’s position on the matter. He said the quicker the matter was resolved, the better.
“We shouldn’t wait until December because he also has to plan for his future. So we’ll wait for the ANC and take it from there,” he said.
@Sihle_MG
The Mercury