PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Investigations by ActionSA into the Bitou Municipality’s recruitment and selection processes have uncovered what it calls “a pattern of unfair employment practices, procedural non-compliance, and gross financial negligence”.
In a statement released on Friday 6 March, Patric Fepiwe, ActionSA’s Garden Route regional chairperson, said the appointment of the superintendent of cemeteries served as a prime example of how internal policies were bypassed to favour unqualified candidates, resulting in significant long-term financial liability for the municipality.
The Bitou Municipality released a statement on Wednesday 11 March indicating that Bitou Acting Municipal Manager Christopher Mapeyi has requested “a further investigation into the matter”.
Mapeyi said: “This investigation is currently under way. The Bitou Municipality’s values include integrity, which includes the commitment to good governance, truthfulness, honour, and uprightness.”
Fepiwe said evidence showed that the successful candidate, Vusumzi Thomas (as superintendent of cemeteries), the brother of Deputy Mayor Nokuzola Kolwapi, was appointed despite failing to meet the minimum requirements stipulated in the job advertisement.
“Thomas did not possess the required ‘relevant tertiary qualification in Local Government’. His credentials consisted only of a 12-month course in purchasing and supply chain management and a recent enrolment in an advanced diploma - neither of which constitutes a full tertiary qualification. The candidate lacked the necessary supervisory or relevant experience inherent to the position,” said Fepiwe.
He claimed that the director of CorporateSservices, Adv Luvuyo Loliwe, repeatedly attempted to bypass the municipal manager’s instructions by ordering that Thomas be paid at a higher salary notch (notch 7) than the approved notch 3.
“Requests for recordings and documentation were met with a three-week delay and missing files, suggesting a deliberate attempt to hide irregularities,” said Fepiwe.
According to Fepiwe the “botched” recruitment of Thomas led to a successful unfair labour practice claim by another candidate, Abedniko Bongoza.
Fraud hotline
The municipality was ordered to pay Bongoza at the same T12 salary scale, including back pay and travel allowances, amounting to R376 183.57 for the first year alone.
“It is projected that this flawed process will cost the municipality R17 954 150.42 over the remainder of Mr Bongoza’s career,” Fepiwe said. “It is evident that the Bitou Municipality failed to comply with municipal staff regulations and recruitment policies. By favouring an unqualified candidate and prejudicing those with the necessary experience, the leadership has committed an unfair labour practice that will burden taxpayers for the next 25 years.”
In his statement Mapeyi acknowledged the enquiry sent by the Knysna Plett Herald relating to the recruitment and appointment allegations, and encouraged residents “and all concerned parties” to use the Bitou Fraud Hotline (0800 86 96 46) to report any suspicious activity.
Requests for comment were also sent to Loliwe and the deputy mayor. Once received, their comments will be added to the article.
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