The ANC caucus in the Buffalo City Municipality has snubbed mayor Xola Pakati’s recommendations for an extension of the city’s development agency board’s term of office pending the finalisation of the recruitment process for a permanent board.
The board of the BCM Development Agency’s term came to an end on midnight on Wednesday, while the recruitment for a permanent board had not yet been concluded.
A leaked document reveals that Pakati had approached the ANC in the region and recommended the term of the board appointed in August 2019 be extended by two months.
“Currently the recruitment processes for the new board of directors are under way and as such council is requested to extend the term of office for the current board for a period of two months, starting from September 1 to October 31 pending the completion of the recruitment process or whichever comes first,” Pakati wrote.
But ANC insiders in the region said Pakati’s recommendation had been ignored by the ANC.
“They instead gave him a list of names of the interim board. The ANC in the region demanded an interim board,” said one ANC leader in the Dr WB Rubusana region.
The appointment of the interim board during a special council meeting on Wednesday was met with outrage by the opposition, with the DA saying it was another example of cadre deployment.
Many opposition parties in the council registered dissent over the appointment of the interim board, saying the process lacked transparency.
The interim board, led by chair Nolitha Peterson, comprises Nobantu Ndevu, Noel van Wyk, Mxolisi Sbam, Andisiwe Kumbaca, Thandiwe Godongwana, Mandilakhe Dilima and Sindile Toni.
The opposition parties in the BCM council say they were given the names of the interim board only while the special council was under way, which they say it was not the norm.
“The agenda did not say who the board members would be and how long the interim period would be.
“The ANC asked for a caucus during the meeting. When they came back, the executive mayor read out names,” said DA chief whip Anathi Majeke.
The UDM’s Anele Skoti said: “Our take was for the board’s term to be extended by at least three months so that due processes could be followed to appoint a permanent board.”
An ANC insider said: “The ANC in the region wanted to have their names in the interim board. They could not even wait for the two months’ request for the extension of the board. This is not good for governance in the city.”
BCM’s ANC council chief whip, Sixolisiwe Ntsasela, said the party’s caucus could not agree with Pakati’s recommendations. She said there was nothing sinister with not agreeing with Pakati’s request.
“Yes, we did receive the recommendations from the mayor, but the ANC caucus had a different view.
“Just like any other political party, the ANC caucus has to make a decision over a matter.
“Comrade Pakati is our mayor and we work as one [team] in the ANC caucus.”
Ntsasela said the DA was being disingenuous over the matter.
“When they are given names like that of the board of directors, they are complaining. If they are not given names, they are also complaining.
“The mayor has consulted the legal department before coming up with those names.
“The legal department was present during the special council meeting. If the opposition say they don’t know the names of the interim board, there is nothing in the law that says for anyone to be recruited they needed to be known by someone.
“Anyway, this is the interim board. The process to appoint a permanent board will commence soon,” she said.
Pakati could not be reached for comment. His spokesperson, Luzuko Buku, said this week: “We reserve our right not to comment on confidential council discussions.”
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