The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality’s Skills Development sub-directorate is once again leaderless after the Local Government Bargaining Council ordered that its previous head be removed from her position.

In 2020, political meddling led to the appointment of Ms Nombeko Nkomana as Deputy Director: Skills Development.

Ms Nkomana was the chief of staff in the office of late Mayor Mongameli Bobani. Any mayoral office appointment is a political one and employment terminates when the term of office of the incumbent ends. There is no obligation on the municipality to find alternative placement.

The then Acting City Manager, the deeply compromised Mvuleni Mapu, was determined to reach a settlement agreement with her and set about securing a plum position for Ms Nkomana.

The position of Deputy Director: Skills Development had been advertised and suitable candidates had been shortlisted, but the process was aborted, and Ms Nkomana was appointed. That was only once her demand to be paid at the top notch of a grade higher than that of Deputy Director was satisfied.

Two of the shortlisted candidates took the matter to the Local Government Bargaining Council. They argued that Ms Nkomana’s appointment was irregular and should be set aside. The Bargaining Council ruled that she should cease to be employed as Deputy Director: Skills Development as from 3 February 2022, and that the position should be advertised again.

I will submit questions for written reply to the Executive Director: Corporate Services, for inclusion in the agenda of the next portfolio committee meeting on 1 March 2022. Not only must answers be provided on how this appointment happened, but clear steps must be taken to prevent such political meddling in appointments in the future.

It remains to be seen if the ANC-led government will now make use of the opportunity to fill this important position with a fit-for-purpose candidate, and if the Coalition of Chaos will hold those responsible for this debacle to account.

The DA will fight for fit-for-purpose appointments to ensure that the Metro operates at an optimum level to deliver services to all residents.

 

Issued by DA NMB Spokesperson for Corporate Services and Human Resources, Cllr Pieter Terblanche