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Durban – The appointment of the new municipal manager of Pongola in northern KwaZulu-Natal is being questioned by the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) and the IFP who claim he has a history of poor performance and should not have been given the job.
But Nhlanhla Maxwell Mabaso, who has been the acting municipal manager for several months, has hit back saying there was a vendetta against him and that he was “one of the best municipal managers in the country”.
Mabaso left Sisonke (Ixopo) District Municipality in southern KZN when his fixed term contract was not renewed last year, Sisonke mayor Mluleki Ndobe confirmed last week.
“New blood was needed,” said Ndobe but, he said, Mabaso was “an exceptional municipal manager” who previously worked in the provincial Department of Co-operative Governance.
He explained that “irregular expenditure” found by the auditor-general in his report on the municipality was because “processes were not followed”.
“There were no fraud allegations against him,” Ndobe said.
It was reported in January that irregular and unauthorised expenditure of R400 million was found under his watch between 2009 to 2011 in Sisonke.
Last year, after Mabaso left KZN, he applied for a municipal manager job in the Merafong Municipality in Gauteng and was appointed, but Samwu had the Labour Court overturn the appointment before he could take up the R1.6 million-a-year position.
“In Merafong, I was the best candidate. Why doesn’t Samwu attack other municipal managers based on the AG’s report?” Mabaso asked in an interview with The Mercury.
The interdict stood because Merafong did not have an attorney in court, he added.
Postponement
“It was a one-sided ruling… Merafong had asked for a postponement.”
He pointed out that he did not get any “golden handshake” from Merafong despite having an appointment letter. Merafong spokesman Slums Magodielo said it was up to Mabaso to challenge the interdict.
Now the IFP chief whip in Pongola, Milton Mtungwa, said he wanted to meet the interviewing panel, including its two IFP representatives.
“We want to know how this happened. We have heard reports against Mabaso but we are searching for the facts and proof,” he said.
Co-operative Governance spokesman Lennox Mabaso said the department was unaware of any fraud or corruption cases against Mabaso. He said the municipal manager had “extensive experience and knowledge” but that the department would gather more information on the Merafong issue.
Union spokesman Giyani Makamu said Mabaso had a bad track record.
“If he comes back to Joburg, we will go to court again. Unfortunately, he’s in KZN and we (Joburg members) do not have jurisdiction there.”
The union argued that Mabaso lacked the ability to do the job in Merafong after he had “failed” in Sisonke.
Merafong had a bigger staff and greater budget than Sisonke, the union said.
Pongola mayor Mashiya Hadebe said
background checks had been done on all interviewed candidates. He was aware of the AG’s damning audit report into Sisonke but the municipal manager could not be “judged alone”.
“Audit reports find the entire municipality responsible. Council makes decisions on spending money,” he said.
Hadebe admitted that Mabaso did not initially disclose that Samwu had stopped his appointment in Merafong.
The issue was discussed, Hadebe said, but, as far as he was concerned, Mabaso had the skills and qualifications for the Pongola position.
lungelo.Mkamba@inl.co.za
The Mercury
