Opposition parties in the eThekwini Municipality in Durban have managed to vote down a proposed candidate to fill the post of city manager.
On Monday night, the African National Congress (ANC) supported the candidate, while the Democratic Alliance (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the Abantu Batho Congress (ABC) voted against it.
It was the ABC’s support that enabled the ANC to retain control of the eThekwini metro after last year’s local government elections.
The municipality’s deputy mayor, Philani Mavundla of the ABC, says they want the entire process restarted.
“We disagreed with the name put forward and we voted against it. Our reason was simple, that before we knew about the outcome of the process of the City Manager, it was all over the papers. We raised the concerns only to find that they went ahead, and that name was being presented which was all over the papers, that can’t be correct. Seemingly some people are being pushed in. We want the entire process to be restated and make sure it is done in a correct manner.”
Meanwhile, the municipality maintains that they followed the correct process in conducting interviews for the position of city manager.
Municipal Spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela explains.
“We can confirm that there was a full council meeting that did not approve the recommendations by the panel that was set up in the filling of the vacancy of the City Manager. We must also point out that all the processes within the perimeters of protocols that govern the appointment of senior managers at local government level were above board…there was absolutely no political interference. As a result, the mayor will soon be outlining the way forward with regards to the matter.”
