In theory, politicians should stay in their lanes and perform their oversight duties over officials to ensure they deliver services in line with the political mandate of the party in charge.
Municipal laws mandate municipal councils to appoint senior managers, and thereafter recruitments are handled by the administration itself.
Laws such as the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) make it clear that politicians are to stay away from tender processes, while the code of conduct for councillors draws the line on interference in the administration.
They are not to interfere in the management or administration of any department, unless mandated by council.
It is an open secret that many politicians interfere in municipalities every day — regional party structures try to remote control officials in municipalities to ensure decisions on recruitment, tenders and other financial decisions are in line with their will.
And officials often comply because they have the threat of losing their jobs hanging over their heads.
It was therefore unsurprising when Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Babalwa Lobishe instructed that disciplinary action against errant workers be halted.
These are the same workers who forcefully dragged the acting executive director of electricity and energy, Tholi Biyela, from the Munelek building last week.
They accused him of undermining the workers and ruling with an iron fist.
Biyela then took steps to suspend them, but his wings were clipped when Lobishe instructed that the disciplinary action be halted.
That she overstepped is not in question. But in doing so, she has undermined a senior manager who must the face the very workers who humiliated him in front of his subordinates.
Defending her actions, Lobishe explained that she had instructed acting city manager Ted Pillay to prevent a situation where the city was plunged into darkness due to electricity faults.
“It was a bit premature for management to decide on a letter of intention to suspend.
“We are not condoning any anarchy in the institution, but I think it’s quite important to hear workers out before drastic decisions are taken,” Lobishe said.
Aside from her actions being tantamount to political interference, Lobishe has set a bad precedent that abhorrent behaviour and insolence towards senior managers will be tolerated.
There is a big difference between leaders pushing to do the right thing and overstepping the line.
Lobishe must think long and hard about how she will traverse these waters she has now muddied.
The Herald
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