The Democratic Alliance in Alfred Nzo has expressed outrage over alleged interference by the African National Congress regional leadership in the employment processes at Umzimvubu Local Municipality. According to DA Chief Whip Wonga Potwana, this interference undermines the integrity of Municipal Manager Thobela Nota and disregards merit-based hiring principles.
The DA claims the ANC regional secretary is pushing for the employment of Nokhanyo Zembe under questionable circumstances. This alleged interference follows a similar incident in Matatiele Local Municipality, where the municipal manager was barred from employing someone in the position of Public Participation, reportedly to accommodate Speaker Ngwanya. The DA advocates for people to be employed based on merit, rather than favouritism by regional structures. Potwana emphasizes that this behaviour by the ANC region is unacceptable and undermines the powers of municipal managers. Unlawful cadre deployment can lead to unqualified individuals being appointed to key positions, compromising the effectiveness of local government. Merit-based hiring, on the other hand, ensures that the most qualified candidates are selected for positions, promoting good governance and accountability.
The ANC regional spokesperson, Lungisile Mzanywa, has denied allegations of interference in the municipality’s employment processes. According to Mzanya, the ANC does not interfere with the day-to-day operations of the municipality but has a legitimate interest in ensuring the functionality and effectiveness of these institutions. The ANC’s interest is rooted in its commitment to service delivery and achieving its manifesto objectives. Mzanywa cited the example of Matatiele Municipality, which is currently facing financial distress, as a reason for the ANC’s interest in strategic deployments. “The ANC aims to ensure that such deployments do not compromise service delivery or the party’s vision,” said Mzanywa. Mzanywa emphasized that while the ANC has an interest in strategic matters, it does not interfere in day-to-day operations or non-strategic issues.
