Update
PLETTENBERG BAY – One of Bitou's most critical posts is currently under scrutiny after the municipality's newly appointed chief executive officer (CFO) failed to take up his position earlier this month.
After an extensive recruitment process Council appointed the preferred candidate, Christopher Mapeyi, in October 2022 to commence duties on 3 January this year.
The appointment saw widespread criticism due to Mapeyi's involvement in the Chris Hani District Municipality in the Eastern Cape, whose 2021 audit and unaudited financial report for 2022 revealed a shocking state of affairs.
Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke said the municipality could not account for how it had spent R1-billion of the R1,043-billion it had received in equitable share and grant allocations.
Ratepayers Association concerned
One of the objectors to the appointment was the Plettenberg Bay Ratepayers Association. "We were horrified by this choice and have done everything in our power to understand the reasoning for this decision," said the chairperson, Peter Gaylard. He said they had repeatedly asked the municipality to provide them with information including application forms, CVs and [names of] members of the selection committee. "To put it mildly, we have been given the runaround; our repeated requests for information have been largely ignored."
It is believed that Mapeyi repudiated his employment contract by not turning up for work. However, according to Gaylard this cannot be the case. "Unfortunately our senior counsel advised that in labour law it does not amount to a repudiation and the employment contract remains in place until Mapeyi officially resigns."
Shaky top management history
This is not the first time top management positions in Bitou have come under fire. In 2019 Bitou's CFO Vincent Mkhefa was arrested for fraud. He was among three people who were arrested by the Hawks' Serious Corruption Investigation Unit over fraud and corruption in Nketoana Municipality in the Free State.
The matter related to the installation of equipment in parks, where incorrect procurement procedures were followed, quotations were inflated and kickbacks exchanged hands.
Mkhefa was sentenced to eight years behind bars in December 2021.
Shortly thereafter Lonwabo Ngoqo was appointed as Bitou's municipal manager in 2019 - after he had been dismissed from the same municipality over financial misconduct in 2012. He was found guilty after disciplinary proceedings.
This led to a series of court cases over the appointment and Ngoqo eventually resigned in December 2021.
'Critical decisions delayed again'
"Obviously an entity on the brink of insolvency, such as Bitou Municipality, needs an exceptional CFO who has the capability and a proven track record to address the situation and turn it around promptly and effectively," Gaylard said.
He added that it is worrying that the "expensive and time-consuming process" of appointing a new CFO would have to be started again. "Critical financial decisions regarding our insolvency will be delayed yet again."
He said given the above expensive fiascos, it is evident that the selection process and hiring decisions are totally flawed. "Our ability to help avoid future bad decisions is limited if we are constantly denied access to the necessary information and are not present during the interviews and deliberations. To this end we will submit a formal request that a representative be given all the relevant documentation before interviews take place and 'observer' status at all interviews and deliberations related to appointments of senior officials."
Bitou municipal spokesperson Andile Namntu said the municipality would respond to the situation, but no comment was received by the time of going to print.
Previous article: Bitou CFO position open again
'We bring you the latest Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route news'
