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News24 reader Charl Kocks writes in response to Sipho Masondo's opinion article, saying it is the quality of management that determines the sustainability of a municipality.
I refer to Sipho Masondo's a opinion article of 14 February 2023 on the need for people with high levels of expertise to head up our municipal management.
The local ratings agency where I work has consistently found that it is the quality of management (coupled with the support of councils to do what is in the best interests of the municipality) determines the sustainability of a municipality.
Arguably, executive mayors who are elected politically do not often meet this requirement; but most certainly, frequent politically inspired changes at this level (normally coupled with the wholesale change of everyone in the top management) does not pass the ability and expertise test as part of the selection process.
Perhaps it is time to revisit the concept of the (politically appointed) executive mayor and rather rely on stable and competent municipal managers together with the underlying team.
- Charl Kocks, Randburg.
