The DA in Phumelela Local Municipality is concerned about five officials on suspension and a unit manager who has been suspended with no charge sheets but is still receiving his full monthly salary. The five officials have been on paid leave for three months, yet no steps have been taken to initiate disciplinary action. The municipality’s lack of action is a waste of public funds that it cannot afford.
The municipality’s mismanagement has resulted in a number of projects and services that are unable to be completed. The main focus is on the renovation of the wastewater works in the Ezenzelen/Warden area. This project has been ‘ongoing’ for several years, with multiple unsuccessful contractors, and no end in sight. The project was supposed to be completed in August.
The council passed a resolution to implement a ‘no work, no pay’ policy but has refused to do so. The policy aimed to reduce wasteful spending and restore municipal functions. We believe the suspension of the Warden Unit manager was motivated by municipality officials’ desire to maintain the status quo of mismanagement and corruption, as he was only trying to follow the council’s policy.
The DA will send a letter to the municipality urging that the suspended individuals’ disciplinary processes be completed speedily. In addition, we will ask why the waterworks project has not yet been completed. Transparency in government is a sign of good governance, but the Phumelela municipality has yet to learn this lesson.