Mawande Jack

The term of the Nelson Mandela Bay acting municipal manager has been extended by another three months.

This was despite undertakings by mayor Zanxolo Wayile to appoint a new municipal manager by not later than February this year.

Government rules stipulate that the employment period for acting officials should not exceed three months.

Local government MEC Mlibo Qoboshiyane admitted that the Mandela metro case was treated as a special case, after the mayor and council requested an extension for acting municipal manager, Themba Hani.

“I have decided to accede to the request of the council and the secondment of Mr Hani,” said Qoboshiyane.

He said the period would be extended by a further three months, from January 19 to April 18 this year.

The municipality has been without a permanent municipal manager since the former manager, Graham Richards, was given a golden handshake in 2010.

The outgoing acting municipal manager, Elias Ntoba, filled the position from 2010 until the end of last year.

Relations between the ANC region and the mayor had soured after the mayor sent a report to Luthuli House accusing Ntoba of undermining his authority by taking instructions from the ANC region.

This led to an intervention by the local government MEC who removed Ntoba and seconded an official to act in his place.

mawandej@thenewage.co.za