Both the appointments of the acting municipal manager and chief financial officer has been extended for another three months. File image. Picture: Soraya Crowie
THE ACTING appointment of the municipal manager, Boy Dhluwayo, was extended for another three months while Kenneth Samolapo will replace the acting chief financial officer, Zahid Cader, during a special council meeting that was held at the City Hall on Friday.
The acting appointment of the municipal manager expires on November 28 while Cader’s acting appointment ended on November 12.
No decision was made regarding whether annual increases will be awarded to the municipal manager Goolam Akharwaray and chief financial officer (CFO) Lydia Mahloko.
Mahloko launched a court application to challenge the validity of the findings of the Section 106 investigation report into irregularities at Sol Plaatje Municipality.
Both Akharwaray and Mahloko agreed to vacate office in 2018 and are continuing to receive their salaries.
During the council meeting ANC councillor Ronnie Morwe insisted that the Section 106 report had been adequately dealt with by Sol Plaatje Municipality.
“It is not our report, it was instituted by our sister department. Yet from time to time we are lambasted by the media regarding the delays. I want to put it on record that we have dealt with the Section 106 report and have resolved the issues and findings.”
He added that the court application of the CFO had been postponed until February next year.
“Council can make a simultaneous decision based on the outcome of the court.”
During a portfolio committee meeting on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on the status of municipalities in the Northern Cape that was held in August, the status of the Section 106 report was questioned.
The committee also queried what action had been taken to implement its recommendations.
In his reply to the committee the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlement and Traditional Affairs (Coghsta) Bentley Vass had informed the committee that the report had been tabled in council.
“However the report had been interdicted and the matter is before the court.”