Naziziphiwo Buso
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Knysna is taking legal action against the ANC-led coalition following the appointment of the new Municipal Manager Ombali Phineus Sebola which the party has deemed unlawful.
DA Constituency Head, Dr Dion George, says Sebola has a record of mismanagement and undermining due process.
George says Sebola's deplorable conduct at his previous municipal manager post at Modimolle-Mookgophong Municipality job will bleed the municipality dry.
A 2019 News24 article, when Sebola was at the helm, a forensic investigation into Limpopo's Modimolle-Mookgophong Municipality revealed a litany of corrupt activities in which millions of rand were paid to companies where there were no service level agreements with the entities nor invoices.
News24 further wrote that a report recommended that Sebola be criminally charged for contravening Section 3 of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
And that Sebola had abused his position by irregularly appointing several companies to the panel of service providers, and later paying them without following proper procedures.
George says the selection process for Sebola, whom they say is unqualified, was riddled with irregularities and legal flaws.
“The council meeting to select him was irregular and the shortlisting process was improperly conducted without the availability of the necessary documents,” George said.
Meanwhile, the marathon council meeting to appoint Sebola on Wednesday started off chaotic as the agenda, with the sole item of appointing a municipal manager was not sent to councillors.
During the short while that the YouTube link was available for the public, the Speaker for the municipality Mncedisi Skhosana from the ANC ruled that the item be debated in private.
The DA holds eight of the 21 seats in the council, the ANC seven, the Knysna Independent Movement (KIM) two, Patriotic Alliance two, and the EFF and Plaaslike Besorgde Inwoners (PBI) — which votes with the ANC — one each.
The DA-led coalition has a combined 10 seats in the council with the KIM, but the coalition was previously supported intermittently by the EFF.
During the meeting, a single ANC councillor, known to Algoa FM News, declined to vote with the party leaving the matter on a 10-10 split.
The Speaker gave the deciding vote which saw Sebola appointed.
A confidential report seen by Algoa FM News recommended that two other candidates be appointed in the light of the restricted response to the case evaluation by Sebola, or citing reasons to readvertise the vacancy and/or indulge in a further recruitment process.
The report further showed that Sebola had basic core Managerial and Occupational Competencies while the two other candidates had advanced skills, as per the written assessment.
On Financial and Supply Chain Management Competency Areas which are Prescribed Municipal Minimum Competency Qualifications for senior managers, it was found that he needs development while the other candidates were advanced.
The report found that the other two candidates most competent among the three candidates and if Sebola was appointed a strong executive management team be appointed to support him and/or support him in a form of mentorship.
Knysna Independent Movement (KIM) leader, Mark Willemse, spoke to Algoa FM about the meeting saying it was chaotic.
He said KIM would support the DA in court.
Willemse said the party supported anything that was against corruption.
“The process used here was irregular that has been used and there are many regulations that prevent the appointment of an incompetent manager,” Willemse added.
PBI leader Virgil Gericke and PA leader Marlon Daniels said the process had been without flaws.
Gericke said the council met all the requirements for the appointment procedure.
“We support that appointment of the municipal manager,” he said.
Asked why the municipality had selected someone who was ranked 3rd and not the best candidate Gericke said: “As far as I understand that the list was not on ranking them on competency but rather a list of council.”
Daniels said the DA must make peace with being in the opposition benches.
“I am not surprised that the DA is taking the matter to court as it is their second home.
“The procedures followed for Mr Sebola was dully correct in all aspects,” Daniels said.
EFF councillor Trevor Louw said he stood with the appointment.
“Where is it stated in the legislation that we should take number 1 or 2 for the position?” Louw asked.
Louw said Sebola was not incompetent but rather needed development.
“When it’s time to elect black leaders the issue of competency is always raised,” he added.
ANC councillor, Skhosana referred all questions to Mayor Aubrey Tshengwa and ANC Chief Whip Thando Matika.
They both could not be reached for comment.
