Appointment of two advisers for BCM mayor raises questions

Former Buffalo City mayor Lulamile Nazo, who relinquished the mayoral chain 25 years ago, is back at city hall, this time as an adviser to mayor Princess Faku.

Nazo, as well as former BCM mayoral committee member Fudukile Mbovane, joined Faku’s team recently in a bid to “enhance good governance”.

Nazo is no stranger to controversy. 

In 2019, the metro was blasted by opposition when it transpired that the city had written off his R42,000 municipal debt and added him to the indigent list, despite him living alone in his home in affluent Bunkers Hill.

In 2000, while still mayor, Nazo’s previous palatial home was attached for auction to defray R500,000 in outstanding bond repayments.

Faku’s spokesperson, Bongani Fuzile, confirmed that Nazo and Mbovane had begun their new roles in January.

They are both former ANC and Sanco leaders in the province.

Fuzile said the duo would help address “strategic challenges” faced by the mayor’s office and the city at large.

“They have primarily been appointed to increase the responsiveness of the office of the executive mayor and to help address strategic challenges faced by the office,” Fuzile said.

“They have an understanding and knowledge of what the needs of our people are on the ground.

“They also have vast experience as they have served the community of greater Buffalo City Metro for decades combined,” Fuzile said.

They would also assist in enhancing good governance in Faku’s office.

“Their mature political leadership is what is needed to guide the office and where they are needed for advice.

“Their untainted political credentials speak volumes,” Fuzile said.

While Mbovane could not be reached at the time of writing, Nazo said their vast experience would be a game-changer for the city.

“I will be advising the mayor on policy development and how to make the metro structure functional because the functionality of such structure has been a challenge in the municipality.

“I will also be helping in interaction with our communities, because there is something lacking in terms of how the institution interacts with its communities.

“Mbovane will also be busy with assessment of the stakeholders of the institution, and work towards mending and creating good working relations between them and the institution,” Nazo said.

Nazo, who became the city’s first democratic dispensation mayor in 1995, left city hall in 2000 to join the Bhisho legislature as an ANC MPL.

Faku will be the first BCM mayor to have political advisers.

A council insider who asked to remain anonymous as he was not mandated to speak to the media, confirmed that none of the previous metro mayors had the services of a political adviser.

“I also know for a fact that such posts do not even exists in the mayor’s office organogram and also it is unclear how much they will be earning and where such budget comes from.

“The posts were not even advertised,” the insider said.

“They also have vast experience as they have served the community of greater Buffalo City Metro for decades combined,”

It was not clear at the time of writing how much the advisers would be earning.

However, in December 2021, the cash-strapped Amathole district municipality advertised for a political adviser for its then mayor, at an annual salary of R1.5m.

While several former metro mayors confirmed they never had advisers, Nazo revealed that he had an adviser for the first two years of his tenure as mayor.

“At the time, we had a relationship with the Canadian Municipalities Association who sent me an adviser, a Mr Johnswell.

“But it was just for two years and after that he left.”

He said with other mayors not having had advisers, this may have been the reason the metro’s audit outcomes had regressed.

DA councillor Anathi Majeke said the appointments raised “several procedural and structural questions”.

She said council should have been formally informed of such appointments, “particularly those of a political nature”.

“This lack of communication and transparency is a significant oversight, especially considering the prominent roles these individuals have held in the past.

“Second, serious concerns arise regarding the placement of these positions within the municipality’s organogram.

“If these are indeed political appointments, as the description suggests, are these newly created positions?

“If so, was council consulted on the creation of these roles and the associated budgetary implications?” Majeke said.

EFF councillor Mziyanda Hlekiso said the appointments “are not going to assist BCM on anything”.

“There is nothing they will change in terms of the challenges faced by BCM citizens.

“These appointments will only lead to unauthorised expenditure as these posts are not even on the mayor’s office’s organogram.”

Daily Dispatch