Municipal Manager post on hold

The vacant Municipal Manager post at the City of uMhlathuze will only be filled after the 2011 municipal elections. At an Executive Committee sitting on Tuesday, Council reaffirmed the appointment of Deputy Municipal Manager -Nkosinathi Nhleko in an acting capacity until the post is filled next year. Nhleko was appointed as Acting Municipal Manager over eight months ago when incumbent Dr Tonie Heyneke, was placed on special leave at a Council sitting last September. However, the Municipal Manager post only became vacant on 23 March when Dr Heyneke officially parted with the municipality following the signing of a settlement agreement. At a Management Services Portfolio Committee meeting earlier this month, Councillors expressed concern over the urgent placement to avoid any possible disturbance in service delivery. Senior Manager Corporate Services, Mbali Ndlovu, clarified that if the vacancy was advertised after the elections, the contract would be for the full five years. ‘If it were advertised now, the contract would be for a maximum period of up to three months after the 2011 elections, and would then have to be re-advertised. In terms of an amendment to the Municipal Systems Act, the employment contract for a Municipal Manager must be for a fixed term of employment -up to a maximum of five years. This is not exceeding a period ending one year after the election of the next Council of the municipality. In the interim, Council resolved on Tuesday that Nhleko would relocate to the office of the Municipal Manager until the vacancy was filled.