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BOSA Wades Into the NMB Municipality Fray With 7 Demands for Mayor Gary

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The statement below is from the BOSA Political Party (movement/collective):

Build One South Africa (BOSA) is here on behalf of the 180 000 jobless residents of Nelson Mandela Bay, who are ultimately the victims of shady dealings, unlawful processes and allegations of corruption as it relates to Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA).

The MBDA is a special purpose development company which is the primary economic development vehicle in Nelson Mandela Bay. With a 33.7% unemployment rate, economic development is crucial in creating jobs and employment opportunities within the city.

However, this is being undermined by a confluence of factors within the agency and the metro’s government which has resulted in economic development and job creation grinding to a halt.

The first and most significant of these is the appointment of Mr Anele Qaba as the CEO of the MBDA. A controversial figure, Qaba was suspended from his previous post as the executive director for Economic Development last year following a string of allegations of financial misconduct. He was given a R3 million golden handshake.

It has now emerged that the selection and appointment process was manipulated in order to ensure Qaba was the preferred candidate. A legal opinion by Senior Counsel Advocate Olav Ronaasen, states that:

“Clearly, with regard to the recruitment of the CEO, the performance of the board was wholly unsatisfactory and constitutes sufficient ground for the removal of its members.

The inescapable conclusion is that the board manipulated the selection process to favour Mr Qaba. It accordingly failed in its fiduciary responsibilities to the entity and to the municipality as its sole shareholder.

My advice is that the municipality proceed to remove the board and advise the minister of its intention in this regard.”

The effect of these shenanigans is dire for the people of Nelson Mandela Bay. Not only are there questionable individuals at the helm, but funding for the MBDA has been cut off.

National Treasury has refused to transfer R781 million in equitable grant funding that has been earmarked for Nelson Mandela Bay until governance in the metro improves. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has made it clear: he has asked for the appointment of Qaba as CEO of the Mandela Bay Development Agency to be overturned.

Part and parcel of improving governance is removing and replacing the City Manager, Noxolo Nqwazi, who is out on bail on charges of fraud and corruption. A power position in the metro’s government, the City Manager’s role is untenable and Godongwana has requested she too is replaced.

BOSA makes the following seven demands to the Office of the Mayor, Gary Van Niekerk:

  1. Fire the CEO of MBDA, Anele Qaba, with immediate effect.
  2. Reopen the CEO appointment process to the public.
  3. Suspend the City Manager, Noxolo Nqwazi, who is out on bail on charges of fraud and corruption.
  4. Dissolve the MBDA board with immediate effect.
  5. Appoint an acting board for the short term.
  6. Recover the R3 million golden handshake given to Anele Qaba following the termination of his previous role as Director of Economic Development in the city.
  7. And finally, write to National Treasury and the Minister of Finance, to outline steps taken to stabilise governance, and to request the release of the R781 million in equitable grant funding that has been earmarked for Nelson Mandela Bay.

We request a formal response within seven days, failing which we will consider all remedies and recourse available to us.

Related Thread: AQaffair

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This author is a 'catch-all' for occasional articles and letters written to MyPE. The Author of each article can be found in the signature at the bottom of each individual article.