Durban - Musa Mbhele has been entrusted with managing the eThekwini Municipality’s ratepayers’ money as he fills the role of city manager.
This was revealed by Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda on Friday. The position became vacant after Mbhele’s predecessor, Sipho Nzuza, parted ways with the City after a lengthy spell of special leave and his resignation.
He was charged with fraud and corruption, with Zandile Gumede, the former mayor and 20 others. The case is related to the 2017 R300 million Durban Solid Waste tender-rigging scandal.
Mbhele, who was the overwhelming choice of all the political parties at a full council meeting on Friday, was the City’s chief operating officer before he was asked to act in the position Nzuza vacated more than a year ago. He is expected to restore trust and the image of the city manager’s office after a disgraceful term under Nzuza.
With the ANC having lost its outright majority in eThekwini, the recruitment was delayed after the DA alleged political interference and demanded the previous interviewing panel’s decision be scrapped and the process restarted.
The panel, led by Kaunda, initially appointed Max Mbili as city manager. However, councillors challenged his appointment. The City succumbed to pressure and set up a new panel, which was chaired by Deputy Mayor Philani Mavundla and represented all parties.
The council also appointed EFF member Thamsanqa Xuma as chairperson of the Municipal Public Accounts Committee, which oversees the executive functions of council and ensures good governance.
About the city manager’s appointment, Kaunda said the experienced Mbhele fared best of 158 applicants. He acknowledged that Mbhele took charge of the position at a time when the municipality had worked hard to bounce back from last July’s civil unrest and April’s floods, and was confident Mbhele would turn the City’s fortunes around.
“That he has been with the municipality for some time augurs well because he comprehends our challenges, and is going to hit the ground running,” Kaunda said. Mbhele is a seasoned government administrator with more than 16 years’ experience in management positions.
He told the Sunday Tribune that he was a “well-oiled machine“ for the task ahead. Growing the economy was Mbhele’s top priority so that issues like unemployment, inequality, and poverty could be addressed. He said this would be achieved through the implementation of the inner city central and secondary business districts, and by eliminating crime and grime.
Mbhele planned a meaningful partnership with Transnet to ensure port efficiencies and open up oceanic economic opportunities. Mbhele agreed the city’s infrastructure had been under pressure due to issues with water supply in Tongaat, and sewerage discharges into the ocean that regularly caused beach closures.
He said: “In instances where political leaders insist on applying pressure to do things that conflict with administrative protocols, it always works well to seek an opinion from either the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and the National Treasury.”
“Opposition and smaller parties are pleased with the appointment of Mbhele,” said Mavundla. DA caucus leader Thabani Mthethwa said they were satisfied that the municipality agreed to have a transparent and ethical recruitment process. He said they want the city manager to claim the city back from criminals and retain it status as a prime tourist destination.
IFP Leader Mdu Nkosi said they expected the city manager to bring financial stability and to draw up plans.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE