ADM asks Cogta to extend acting manager’s stay

The Amathole district municipality council has endorsed a decision to ask the provincial government to extend the stay of acting municipal manager Monwabisi Somana, after it failed to appoint a permanent municipal manager on time.

At its meeting behind closed doors on Friday, the council agreed to a report which asked that Somana’s stint be extended.

Somana was seconded by the Eastern Cape co-operative governance & traditional affairs department for 90 days, which ends on January 31.

Part of his job was to assist in the hunt for a new municipal manager. ADM has been without a municipal manager for more than six months after the high court reversed a decision by the council to reappoint Thandekile Mnyimba as manager.

His numerous attempts to reverse the decision have been futile.

The Daily Dispatch has seen a confidential report requesting that Somana’s stint be extended.

The hunt for the new municipal manager has apparently also been delayed by the resignation from the recruitment panel of chief whip Nanziwe Rulashe.

The report states it had to halt interviews for the position after Rulashe resigned from the panel.

It had already shortlisted 14 candidates for the position on January 18.

“The recruitment processes for the municipal manager position are at the stage for conducting interviews. The interviewing date was scheduled for January 26 2023, but due to the voluntarily resignation of a panel member, the interviews have been deferred to a date still to be determined,” reads the report.

It said the resignation had not been anticipated and the situation had affected Somana’s duration.

“It is requested that council seeks approval from the MEC for co-operative governance & traditional affairs to extend the acting capacity of the current municipal manager for a month effective from February 1 2023,” reads the report.

Rulashe told the Dispatch she had resigned because she had too much on her plate.

Among other things, she was the chair of municipal finance in the Eastern Cape for the South African Local Government Association and her work clashed with panel’s sittings.

ADM spokesperson Nonceba Madikizela-vuso confirmed the council had acceded to a request to extend Somana’s acting period.

“The council has asked Cogta to extend Monwabisi Somana’s stay for three months or until the position is filled, whichever comes first.”

Williams’ spokesperson Pheelo Oliphant on Saturday said the MEC’S office had not yet received correspondence from the municipality about the request.