The Matatiele Local Municipality council has dismissed a motion aimed at stopping the hiring process for key positions. According to the reports, an AMPAC Chairperson Sussan Mokhesi who is also a newly elected REC member raised a motion that sought to halt the hiring process and investigate several positions, but the motion was ultimately rejected.
According to reports, the AMPAC member’s motion called for investigations into the positions of Infrastructure Manager, General Manager: Corporate Services, Risk Manager, and Audit Manager. The motion also urged the municipality to disband the evaluation committee, adjudication committee, and specification committee. Furthermore, the motion sought to halt the hiring process for these positions, effectively putting on hold on the municipality’s plans to fill these critical roles. According to the source, the AMPAC chairperson’s motion was not only illogical but also potentially malicious. The source believes that the member is misusing her position as an REC member to further personal or political interests. Furthermore, the source accuses the member of attempting to mislead the municipality and undermine its functionality.
When asked about the reasons behind the AMPAC member’s motion, the source revealed that no clear justification was provided. The source emphasized the importance of having valid reasons before raising such a motion, particularly when it involves halting critical hiring processes.
The Democratic Alliance Chief Whip Wonga Potwana, has expressed concerns over the AMPAC’s Chairperson motion to halt the hiring processes, questioning the logic behind it. According to the reports, the party noted that the municipality lacks key personnel, including a Manager of Corporate Services and an IT Manager, making it challenging to implement the motion. Potwana, raised serious concerns about the AMPAC member’s motion, describing it as “useless and frivolous”. According to the chief whip, the motion aimed to: Disband the municipality, interfere in the procurement processes of the municipality, disband the adjudication committee, evaluation committee, and other committees that deal with municipal processes.
The chief whip further alleged that the AMPAC chairperson wanted to elect her own members to these committees, effectively interfering with the running of the municipality. Potwana also expressed concerns about interference with Section 117 of the Municipal Finance Management Act. stating that this section outlines specific procedures and guidelines for municipal financial management. “ Makhesi motion has a potential to collapse this Municipality and according to Section 117 us councilors we are prohibited into such matters,” said Potwana.
Meanwhile the Matatiele Local Municipality Speaker Nonzwakazi Ngwanya confirmed that, the motion was indeed raised but in manner of urgency because the Chairperson did not submit the motion in normal procedure of 10 days before the sitting of the council. When asked about the rejection of the motion by the councilors Ngwanya responded, “ In normal circumstances when a motion is raised it must be seconded thereafter I make my own ruling whether it will be discussed today or not meaning, i determine whether it is an urgent matter or not, therefore in this case I reserved my ruling,” explained the Speaker.
