The scandal-plagued Kumkani Mhlontlo local municipality fired another high-ranking official this week, terminating the contract of chief financial officer Nandipha Sibobi less than two years into her tenure.
Sibobi’s axing comes just months after the dismissal of integrated development plan and performance management system manager Loyiso Yalezo in January for failing to produce his original matric certificate.
Both had been appointed in early 2024.
Sibobi was employed despite a questionable track record which included being fired by two previous employers for gross dishonesty.
Mhlontlo municipal manager Lungile Ndabeni confirmed a decision to terminate Sibobi’s contract had been taken during a council meeting on Monday.
In April, Sibobi was placed on suspension for allegedly deceiving the council in a deal linked to contractual engagements with cellphone network providers.
It was also alleged that she had been involved in another wrongdoing involving the appointment of a VAT recovery service provider which contradicted the Municipal Finance Management Act.
Sibobi, however, insisted she was innocent.
Ndabeni said: “The CFOs contract was terminated after all the disciplinary processes were made by the municipality.
“She did not respond to all the allegations against her which include gross dishonesty and violation of Section 2 of the employment contract, noncompliance with MFMA Circular 74, causing the municipality to incur or be subjected to potential avoidable wasteful and fruitless expenditure to the tune of R3.4m, and other charges.
“A vacancy was declared during the council meeting [on Monday] and the position will be advertised soon.”
Sibobi has described the termination of her contract as unlawful.
She said on Thursday that Ndabeni had sent her suspension letter via email in April, following a council resolution to place her on precautionary suspension pending the finalisation of an investigation against her.
“From April 1 to date, I have not been served with the charge sheet and the notice to attend a disciplinary hearing. On June 2, I returned to work because the suspension period (90 days) had lapsed.
“The municipal manager told me that I could not access the premises and he emailed me the letter of my dismissal.
“The process to put the CFO on precautionary suspension was unlawful, the proceedings of the council were unlawful, the content and the regulations stated by the municipal manager on the precautionary suspension were not in line with the Municipal Systems Act.
“The CFO cannot be suspended by the municipal manager,” she said.
“While I was put on precautionary suspension, the municipal manager had locked the work mobile phone, it was impossible to make or receive calls.
“In my view, I was entitled to all the benefits and the decision to hard lock the mobile phone was not a corrective measure but rather a punitive one.
“To me, this dismissal is unfair and unlawful and warrants to be challenged.”
UDM councillorZakheni Nondaka said they were totally against the decision to sack Sibobi.
“We made it clear [in the council meeting] that we are against this decision, but they [ANC councillors] used their majority in council to get their way.
“We do not think it has anything to do with her capacity but everything to do with the factional battles, infighting and instability in Mhlontlo spearheaded by the ruling party,” Nondaka said.
Daily Dispatch
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