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Mpilo Mbambisa must be investigated and prosecuted, not paid out

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Dear MyPE

The DA condemns that the Nelson Mandela Bay Council is once again considering a golden handshake for a non-performing government official, this time NMB’s city manager, Mpilo Mbambisa.

If paid out, Mbambisa would shockingly be the fourth city manager to receive a golden handshake, at ratepayers’ expense. Nelson Mandela Bay citizens continue to fund a flawed ANC cadre deployment system, which limits the freedom of residents to reach their full potential. This must be stopped.

South Africa sees all too often how the ANC recycles cadres – appointments are made for political loyalty rather than skill, then the appointee fails to perform or is dishonest, the cadre’s indiscretions are ignored for ages, and when they can’t be ignored any longer the individual is moved sideways with a large payout at the expense of government delivery.

This comes hot on the heels of former city manager, Lindiwe Msengana-Ndlela, being unlawfully treated by the Council and costing the city R3.1million in damages which we truly cannot afford.

The DA insists that the 17 alleged charges against Mbambisa including dereliction of duty, poor performance and supply chain deviation be fully probed in a forensic investigation. If found guilty, Mbambisa should be prosecuted and blacklisted from working in the public sector.

The ANC cannot unnecessarily waste more ratepayers’ money to deal with the devastating consequences of political interference in the appointment of government officials.

A DA government would ensure that the appointment of government officials follows due process, remains fair, transparent and is based on capacity to perform and not on political-alignment. In light of the terrible track record displayed by city managers in Nelson Mandela Bay, the procedure through which government officials are employed needs to be reviewed by council as a matter of public importance.

The DA will write to the Speaker, Maria Hermans, to request the urgent implementation of a moratorium on contract payouts for all underperforming government officials, where all internal disciplinary options haven’t yet been exhausted.

The DA is set on winning Nelson Mandela Bay at next year’s elections to restore service delivery, to appoint a skilled administration and to root out poor performance so that the residents of the Metro can be afforded the opportunity to live in a well-run city.

Regards

Athol Trollip

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Port Elizabethan

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