Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Stone Makhema and Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Teboho Thulo.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Metsimaholo has once again stood firm to ensure that the ANC-EFF coalition does not push through an irregular and unlawful appointment of a senior manager. This follows the vacancy in the position of Director: Social Services, where a report recommending an appointment was tabled before Council on two separate occasions.
The Director of Social Services, as the Head of Department, is responsible for the overall management of this key department. This includes refuse removal, fleet procurement, cleansing and grass-cutting of greenbelts, cemetery management, parks and recreation, as well as facilities management of municipal halls and multi-purpose centres.
Filling this position through a lawful and credible process is essential to restoring service delivery.
The process for appointing senior managers is clearly outlined in the Local Government Municipal Staff Regulations of 2022, and further supported by the Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000. Regulation 16(3) states that the selection panel must remain the same throughout the process.
However, the coalition-sponsored MMC, which served as a panel member, repeatedly failed to attend sessions, offering inconsistent and unverified reasons. This absence invalidated the entire process.
Whether intentional or not, the matter was never properly deliberated, as the second Council sitting was abruptly closed before councillors could engage meaningfully. The ANC had requested this postponement to “consult” their leadership on whether to proceed, despite the obvious procedural flaws.
It is deeply concerning that even one MMC in the already bloated Social Services cluster, consisting of three MMCs, could not prioritise such a critical process. This negligence has resulted in wasteful expenditure and further delays in appointing a director urgently needed to stabilise the department.
Furthermore, Regulation 17 requires the selection panel to present a full report to the Executive Committee and Executive Mayor before the matter goes to Council. The ANC-EFF executive clearly failed in this responsibility.
Their attempt to downplay or deny the procedural gaps only raises further questions about their commitment to good governance. Despite these glaring defects, the report still recommended an appointment, an unacceptable attempt to legitimise a flawed and unlawful process.
Social Services is a vital department responsible for direct community services. Leaving it without a director only worsens the already collapsed state of service delivery in Metsimaholo.
Regrettably, the DA is forced to call for the re-advertisement of the position due to the ruling coalition’s negligence and disregard for proper procedure. However, we remain committed to ensuring a lawful, transparent, and credible process.
As the new process begins, the DA will continue its oversight role to protect the integrity of the institution and ensure that services are restored to the people of Metsimaholo.