DURBAN - Interviews for the next eThekwini Municipality city manager were currently under way.
That was according to the DA’s caucus leader Nicole Graham, in a tweet on Tuesday.
During last month's council, the DA narrowly lost a vote to extend the interviewing panel to include the entire executive council (Exco).
The ANC had rallied its coalition partners to keep the panel small and dominated by the ANC.
The final decision would be made by the council.
eThekwini City Manager interviews are underway. At last month’s Council, we narrowly lost a vote to extend the interviewing panel to include the entire EXCO. The ANC rallied their coalition partners to keep panel small and dominated by ANC. Final decision to be made by Council.
— Nicole Graham (@NicoleGraham031) March 8, 2022
Speaking to the Daily News on Wednesday, Graham said they believed the panel should be as broad as possible.
“Previously interviews for city manager and deputy city manager’s used to include the entire executive committee. The ANC then reduced it, so it’s normally just the mayor and one other member of Exco and then there are other legislated members of the panel,” Graham said.
“We attempted it in last month’s council meeting, to rescind the council decision and re-introduce a council decision that expanded it to the whole Exco.”
“The reality is that this is a very important decision and the more transparency and the more latitude there is to select the best candidate, the better. It should not be a secretive process, nor a process that is dominated by the ANC,” Graham said.
She said unfortunately the ANC and their coalition partners voted against the recommendation which was narrowly defeated.
Graham said they would be tracking the process very closely and the decision as to who the city manager is, is made by council.
The closing date for the applications was January 16, 2022.
In December 2021, the Daily News reported that the municipality had begun searching for a new city manager after it reached a settlement with Sipho Nzuza in July – the former city manager’s contract was supposed to end this month.
The city had advertised it’s highest paid lucrative post with a salary tag of R2.5-R3.9 million for the successful applicant.
In the advertisement the city said the salary package was in line with the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000, which is applicable for category 10 municipalities. According to the advertisement, the manager is expected to provide strategic leadership and direction to account for the municipal service delivery, income and expenditure as well as other obligations as prescribed by the legislations and the municipal council policies, to ensure an economically viable and accountable administration.
The post became vacant when Nzuza was arrested for his alleged involvement in the R400 million solid waste tender scandal.
He was charged alongside former mayor Zandile Gumede, various councillors and officials.
He was released on R50 000 bail with strict conditions which gave him very limited access to his normal duties.
Seeing that he was continuing drawing a salary while not performing his duties because of bail conditions the council tasked mayor Mxolisi Kaunda to negotiate a settlement with Nzuza so that he would leave the position.
Sipho Cele was appointed to act in the position for six months then alternated with Musa Mbhele, who is currently acting in the position.
Daily News