Nelson Mandela Bay’s political bosses have been summoned to a meeting with Eastern Cape co-operative governance MEC Zolile Williams to explain what issues they have with former acting city boss Mandla George.
The meeting, set to take place in Mthatha on Friday, comes after mayor Babalwa Lobishe wrote at least two letters to Williams pertaining to the municipality.
In response, Williams said the city’s political leadership must meet him in Mthatha to discuss matters raised in her letter, which include George’s alleged under-achievements across several key performance areas.
“I would like to schedule a meeting with the troika and the mayoral committee to establish some facts around the issues of dissatisfaction,” Williams wrote.
He wants to discuss, among other things, the:
- Provision of a support package to the municipality in terms of Section 154 of the constitution;
- A request by the council to second a senior official to act as municipal manager for six months; and
- George’s performance review.
Lobishe, speaker Eugene Johnson, council chief Wandisile Jikeka and the mayoral committee were told to meet him at 2pm.
Williams’ spokesperson, Pheello Oliphant, would not comment on the meeting until after it has been convened.
The gathering comes months after George’s six-month stint as acting city manager ended, and the council did not activate a clause in his contract that would allow him to stay on in the position for an additional three months.
Instead, the municipality turned to Williams again to ask for his help in finding another acting administration head.
It is understood that George and Lobishe had a terse relationship, which is why he was not kept on for an additional three months.
George took up the acting position after city manager Noxolo Nqwazi was suspended.
When his acting stint ended, public health executive director Sizwe Mvunelwa was appointed by the council to head the administration in the interim.
During a closed council session on January 30, the council decided that Lobishe should reach out to Williams or Cogta minister Velenkosini Hlabisa to seek administrative support in terms of Section 154 of the constitution.
According to the confidential report tabled by Lobishe at that meeting, George’s secondment agreement stipulated that a performance evaluation be conducted by the municipality.
“However, the performance review for the first three months [July 15-October 15 2024] did not take place due to changes in the office of the executive mayor, as well as a lack of communication from the secondee with the newly elected executive mayor,” the report stated.
It also states that no reports were submitted by George to Lobishe from October to December.
“Those reports were only submitted on January 15 2025 alongside the December or January report, resulting in the delay in the performance evaluation process, which will [be done] post-expiration.
“The outcome of the evaluation will determine the extent of the support package aimed at addressing critical capacity challenges within the city.”
When asked about the contents of her letter to Williams, Lobishe declined to speak on the matter.
“I can’t comment on that because we are yet to meet the MEC and discuss the matter.”
Lobishe said the meeting was being held in Mthatha to accommodate Williams.
The infrastructure and engineering political head, ANC councillor Buyelwa Mafaya, said while not fully aware why they had been called, they had to attend the meeting because it was a directive from the MEC.
Economic development political head Bassie Kamana, of the PAC, said he was not aware of the issues because they had agreed as the government of local unity (GLU) for George to continue in the acting city manager role.
“We had a GLU meeting in January and last month where this was communicated, all coalition partners were in agreement except for the ANC,” Kamana said.
“We said he must continue, that for us to get stability in the metro, we needed consistency instead of changing people.
“We later received a message indicating that the ANC had no position on the George matter and that is where we are currently.
“But as the PAC, we are happy with whoever is in the position as long as they are competent.”
Budget and treasury political head Khanya Ngqisha (EFF) said they would attend the meeting because they had agreed in the GLU that they wanted George to return.
The Herald
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