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In any kind of normal and regulatory institution, and organogram being present that represents each and every position within the business and clearly indicates the lines of communication and reporting.
An organogram that is usually outsourced to be complied by an independent organization, at great cost, to ensure that it is not only efficient, effective but is also compiled in line with the goal, mission, vision of the business (even that of a Municipality) which is then submitted for approval to the customer for acceptance and approval.
This being relevant even within government departments and specifically so also within Municipalities, be it Local, District, and or any other business in which lines of communication and reporting being as clear as daylight as detailed in the organogram.
This being the status quo that has to be ‘followed to the letter’ even within the Elias Motsoaledi Local Council, which organogram being compiled by an outside contractor and finally adopted by Council, as acceptable and defining roles and reporting within its ambit.
Within the organogram of the Council, the position of Municipal Manager indicated, who is considered to also simultaneously be the “responsible accounting officer” who has a mandate and has to ensure that all financial matters within council are executed within the regulatory rules, laws, and every instruction from its Municipality that it has to report to.
Such Municipal Manager on his or her own not being in any position to make decision of whatever nature without it firstly being recommended to be changed by him or her to Council, whom will then table the recommendation, consider and debate on it, and then if it is thought to be in the best interest of the Municipality, recommend it, but if it is something that needs concurrence, it then being submitted to higher authority for final approval, as determined by Law that applies to the Municipality, be it Financial, Systems, Structures, Procurement, etc.
Yet amazingly the Elias Motsoaledi Local Council, in October of 2014 advertised the vacant position of Municipal Manager at great cost stating the remuneration package as an all inclusive package of R 984 710 per annum which after 12 months of accountably, transparent and good governance and handling of all the mandated duties as ‘accounting officer’ and Municipal Manager would then increase to R 1 063 486 per annum.
Council, then having received applications from individuals that possessed all of the educational requirements, shortlisted, invited applicants for interview, all of them having great expectations of being favourably considered to be appointed whereas all of this was a mere ‘procedure’ and carried no weight in the final decision.
Concurrence for the appointment of such a managerial position in Council, then under ‘normal circumstances Council has to be conformed to’ in then having to submit its recommendation to Province who then has to concur that the ‘incumbent that is recommended to be appointed’ has the necessary minimum qualifications required for the position that is vacant and then ‘rubber stamps’ its concurrence to the appointment.
Only after such a due diligence process has been followed may the ‘recommended applicant’ assume duties.
After having advertised the position, which was in actual fact nothing more than an ‘eye blind’ as Council had already prematurely decided that the candidate of preference for the position would be the none other than the Director Corporate, Me. Ramakgahlela Minah Moredi, whom co-incidentally didn’t possess the minimum qualifications as stipulated in the advertisement and such Director, actually being the responsible person for the placement of the advertisement, and therefore by innuendo advertised the position that she knew she was the candidate of preference to be appointed acting as both “Referee and Player” at the same time!!!
As of 01st November 2014, the Director Corporate then appointed as Municipal Manager, who meets none of the required minimum qualifications, for a contract period from the 01st November 2014 until October 2017 on a remuneration package of R 984 710.00
Concurrence and procedural regulations that were to have been followed prior to her being appointed oblivious by Council, not being adhered to, and then only after the incumbent, whom never relinquished her position of Director Corporate commencing duties and being paid from the effective date.
Me. Ramakgahlela Minah Moredi then on her own takes the decision that the salary at which she was appointed was inappropriate and insufficient in relation to her own mind, and without submitting any recommendation to Council, or even at that stage having concurrence for her appointment from Province increased her salary unilaterally (one-side, autonomous, autarchic) to be that which the incumbent was to have only earned after 12 months of unblemished conduct within the appointment would have received being R 1 063 486.60 which amounts to an 8% increase prematurely.
Province only in February 2015 granting concurrence to the appointment as being effective from May 2015, yet in the incumbent since November 2014 earning R 88 623.88 per month, whereas the applicable salary should be R 82 059.16 per month, as per the advertisement and only increased to R 88 623.88 after 12 months service.
With concurrence from Province only granted for the position as from May 2015 at the advertised remuneration package, the incumbent therefore being overpaid R 6 564 72 per month which to date amounts to R 45 953.04 and she will still be earning if immediate remedial action against this gross violation of regulatory procedures is not taken as a matter of urgency.
The Municipal Manager had no authority to unilaterally increase the salary, without submitting a recommendation to council, who is the ‘guardian and overall overseers all matters within Council’ and Council, then recommending to Province on the recommendation and the resolution taken.
To act in this way, is nothing but selfish, autocratic (despotic, tyrannical, oppressive, monocratic, dictatorial, arbitrary, bossy, imperious, tyrannical) in every possible way, and someone acting in this manner should immediately be ‘fired’ from her position, not suspended with pay, but ‘fired’ as she only has her own personal agenda and interest as a priority and couldn’t care less about any regulatory manners that has to be conformed to!
How can a person like this be entrusted to be the Municipal Manager, or for that matter the ‘accounting officer’ who is in charge of millions of taxpayer’s money, with such an unorthodox self enrichment attitude?
But then also Council and all Councilors that agreed to appoint an unqualified person should be held liable and accountable for appointment of someone and individually and or collectively have to refund to Council R 620 637.16 that was paid to someone that never qualified for the position.
Yet once again Elias Motsoaledi Local Government and for that matter the ruling party proves to all those that it represents, that it couldn’t care less about them, and are only there to ‘line their own pockets’ be it in any way whatsoever, with all regulatory procedures that has to be followed ‘ thrown out of the window’
And then residents have to trust that they would benefit – an unequivocal No, which is evidentiary in the procedures followed in this case.
So what is supposed to be ‘normal’ is never ‘normal’ within local Council.
