/ 30 September 2010

Former BMF leaders call for Jimmy Manyi’s head

A committee of senior Black Management Forum (BMF) members has called on the forum’s president Jimmy Manyi to resign, just a year after he started his second term at the helm. The committtee said it would lobby for a motion of no-confidence if he does not heed the call to vacate office voluntarily.

The committee, led by three former presidents of the forum, Lot Ndlovu, Bheki Sibiya and Nolitha Fakude, made their intentions known at a media briefing in Johannesburg this week. They accused Manyi of eroding BMF values by displaying “a frightening brand of arrogance, amateurism and lack of logic” and of being “unfit” to lead the forum of black managers. Manyi’s pronouncements on behalf of the BMF including his endorsement of the African National Congress ahead of the 2009 election and the continuing cosy relationship with the ruling party, as well as his decision to accept a director-general position in the labour department while still holding the BMF position, caused unhappiness within the BMF. Manyi has however dismissed talk of disagreements on the issues. The latest bone of contention was lobbying for constitutional amendments, that would give Manyi executive powers and possibly pave the way for him to return to the forum on a permanent basis.

Ndlovu described the call for Manyi to step down as unprecedented in the history of the organisation, but was necessary to save the BMF from the continued deterioration in “quality” and in “standing”. He said in a statement that the forum had become an embarrassment to its members and to key stakeholders.

In an interview with the Mail & Guardian, Ndlovu said the decision to go public was because efforts to raise their concerns within the organisation had failed, including a meeeting of the former presidents and senior leaders with Manyi and his deputy, Thembakazi Mnyaka.

“We want to declare publicly that there are a lot of BMF members who do not agree with many positions that the organisation has taken. We further want to liberate our members to talk about these issues. These issues have been spoken about in hushed tones and we want to say to our junior members, even senior leaders share your views,” said Ndlovu.

The motion of no confidence can be passed by either the board or at an annual general meeting (AGM). The next meeting is scheduled to start on October 6. The committee would however prefer to have Manyi out before then and has asked the board to communicate to Manyi that his leadership was no longer required. “We request the board to hold an emergency meeting by October 4 so that we can have a smooth AGM without him [Manyi],” said Ndlovu.

The BMF has developed an image and reputation of “irrational, bumbling, opportunistic, shooting from the hip and political amateurism” since Manyi became president, said the senior members.

Said Ndlovu: “When you try to render advice they accuse you of wanting to rule from the grave and they label people Cope members so that they would not differ with them”. He said Manyi’s leadership style was one that “demands obedience, stifles dissension and manipulates elections and appointments”.

The BMF’s relationship with the ruling party was the biggest problem, according to the concerned members. Members driven by their own selfish interests acted in a manner that distorted the nature of the relationship between the BMF and the ANC, said Ndlovu. The forum and the ANC relationship should be at arm’s length and be based on mutual respect and support for each other’s programmes. Ndlovu said the BMF should not become the ANC’s “active alliance partner”.

Manyi could not be reached for comment on Thursday and his deputy Mnyaka refused to comment.