Msunduzi Municipality to restart recruitment process for deputy municipal manager post after alleged irregularities

The recruitment process to fill a top position that has been vacant for more than a year in the Msunduzi Municipality has to be started afresh amid allegations of irregularities including alleged rigging of interview scores.

A report by the city’s Municipal Public Accounts Committee (Mpac) compiled last month has advised the municipality to re-advertise the Deputy Municipal Manager for Community Services position. The attempt to fill the post on an acting capacity last week also sparked outrage and threats of legal action from the DA.

The Mpac report warned that the process to fill the vacancy on a permanent basis should be cancelled, and the recruitment process should start afresh.

It does not detail the irregularities discovered but zeroed in on the conduct of officials involved in the recruitment process, accusing them of acting against the interest of the municipality and stating that the officials violated numerous procedures and regulations during the process.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source in the municipality outlined the alleged irregularity. The source said the number one transgression that was identified was that the city’s internal audit had received information about tampering with the scores of the candidates who had been interviewed; they conducted an investigation and handed the report to Mpac.

“We understand that the interviewers did their job and scored the candidates from 1, 2, and 3 and handed in their scoring, but then there was interference with the scoring. Candidate number 3 was moved to the second spot. Candidate number 1 was not affected, but because of this corruption, Mpac received a report and they decided that the entire process must be restarted.”

The committee called for disciplinary action to be taken against those involved in the process and that any spending incurred as part of the recruitment process should be classified as wasteful expenditure. “That the cost of advertising for the position and administrative costs incurred throughout the selection and recruitment process should be declared as fruitless and wasteful.”

Furthermore, it noted that there is sufficient evidence to support disciplinary action against those involved for breaching the Code of Conduct for municipal staff members. The report said they violated sections of the Municipal Systems Act, as they did not loyally execute the lawful policies of the municipal council, did not perform their functions in good faith, diligently, honestly, and transparently, and did not act in the best interest of the municipality, thereby compromising its credibility and integrity.

It added that the recovery of the fruitless and wasteful expenditure or losses must be initiated within a month from the date of the resolution of the Council.

The chairperson of Mpac in Msunduzi, Zweli Magubane, stated, “There have been irregularities with the process to fill the position on a permanent basis, and we have directed that this process be stood down. We were to table a report detailing that in the meeting that was supposed to take place last week, but it collapsed. We expect to table it in a special meeting that is expected to take place today.”

The Msunduzi Municipality, however, said yesterday that progress toward permanently filling the position is well underway.

“This reflects our commitment to strengthening capacity and ensuring that essential services are led by qualified and accountable professionals. Msunduzi Municipality remains committed to transparent governance, lawful processes, and the delivery of quality services to all residents,” it said.

During a council meeting last week, the DA objected to the filling of the position on an acting capacity, stating that the person recommended was unqualified for the post.

ACDP councillor Rienus Niemand expressed concern regarding the legality of the appointment of the Deputy Municipal Manager for Community Services.

THE MERCURY