Due process: Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina’s metro is clean
RIGHT OF REPLY
The City of Ekurhuleni wishes to clarify the unfortunate misinformation in the article “Red flags hover over Ekurhuleni trio” (Mail & Guardian, May 12). It sought to suggest that the recent appointment of three new senior managers, the chief operations officer, the chief of police, as well as chief financial officer, was flawed. In fact, all procedures in relation to the Local Government Municipal Systems Act were followed.
Also of great concern are the misleading comments made by Samwu (South African Municipal Workers’ Union) and (union federation) Cosatu on the same appointments.
We generally respect the views of Samwu and Cosatu, but this time we find them malicious, as they even question the qualifications of the chief of police, who boasts more than 31 years in the service and has been a deputy chief of police in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) for years.
There is also an attempt to link the executive mayor to the recruitment process, when the administration runs the process and the council approves the recommended individuals after due process, as prescribed by the Municipal Systems Act.
Chapter 3 of the Act outlines principles of recruitment, including the fact that council, as a collective, should first approve the advertisement of positions and the interviewing panel — which indeed happened.
Once the positions had been advertised, there was a shortlisting process, which was approved by the city manager as prescribed by legislation.
Interviews were conducted and recommendations were made to the council for endorsement. Upon the council’s approval, a full report, accompanied by all the necessary documentation, as prescribed by the Act, was forwarded to the Gauteng MEC for co-operative governance and traditional affairs for final endorsement as per Section 56 (4) of the Act.
We find the assertions in the M&G article misleading, especially at a critical time, when the city is engaging investors in the bond market.
The municipality is of the view that the three successful candidates were the best, after an excellent showing in the interview process. The city has no doubt that we have appointed capable, qualified and competent people.
The chief financial officer (CFO), Gugu Pride Malaza-Duda, is a chartered accountant with a wealth of experience in private and public institutions. She has worked for FNB and various government departments, and was vice-president for strategy and risk integration for Africa at AngloGold Ashanti.
With 17 years of financial management experience, her accounting experience and experience in formulating and implementing global strategies, the City of Ekurhuleni is satisfied that she is the best candidate for chief finacial officer.
The special adviser to the minister of transport, Lesiba Mojapelo, joins Ekurhuleni as chief operating officer. He holds master’s degrees in transport engineering and business administration. Mojapelo has worked in the city previously and brings substantial institutional memory and flair in capital budget spending to the job.
General Isaac Mapiyeye, the new chief of police, boasts 31 years’ experience in policing. He has a BTech in traffic safety management from Technikon Pretoria and holds a public administration qualification.
He has served Ekurhuleni with distinction in many capacities, including that of acting director: special services, municipal courts: co-ordinator, and acting director: technical and logistics. His experience will ensure continuity and stability in the EMPD.
When we took office in August last year, we undertook, among other things, to build 100 000 houses, provide 59 000 serviced stands, increase the bursary fund from R10-million to R100-million, upscale basic services in informal settlements and vigorously pursue the idea of having a university in our space.
We remain extremely focused to ensuring that we defeat poverty, unemployment and inequality. These three skilful and competent appointees, and many others we have appointed over the past few months, are meant to ensure the optimal functioning of the city, with a view to taking its service delivery priorities into a higher trajectory.
As prescribed by the Municipal Systems Act and in line with our strategic priority of clean governance, the metro will always ensure that all individuals appointed into positions meet the necessary requirements and possess the necessary corporate experience required to steer a progressive and vibrant organisation like the Ekurhuleni metro to deliver on its social contract with the people.
Themba Gadebe is the spokesperson and senior media manager of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality