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Another IFP-led municipality in KwaZulu-Natal’s Zululand district is embroiled in a qualifications scandal.
This time, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) is investigating the appointment of uPhongolo Local Municipality manager Bethuel Khali.
According to correspondence that Scopa chairperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa submitted to uPhongolo mayor Velephi Sikhosana, Khali’s documentswere not submitted to the KwaZulu-Natal department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) when he was appointed.
Hlengwa wrote:
He said the documents included details of the vacancy, an advertisement for the post, the executive committee’s recommendation to the council regarding Khali’s appointment, a Cogta verification report and verification of Khali’s matric results.
READ: Calls for probe into Abaqulusi municipality manager’s ‘fake’ qualification
UPhongolo municipality spokesperson Meshack Mdlalose referred questions to Sikhosana, who did not respond to questions emailed to her.
Khali’s aides promised numerous times to ensure that he responds, but he did not.
ANC secretary in the Mzala Nxumalo region, Ntokozo Nxumalo, said the party supported the Scopa decision.
“Despite coming from different political parties, we salute such leaders for making a conscious decision to flush out criminal syndicates that are operating under the banner of the IFP. For too long, we have been receiving information from IFP leaders and their supporters about a practice of elevating unqualified municipal workers into senior positions in these municipalities,” Nxumalo said.
READ: Ethics committee finds mayor, deputy unfit for office following vehicles hire scandal
“Some of these individuals are in possession of fake qualifications, but have been employed because they belong to a dominant faction within the IFP. This faction has apparently been given powers to loot municipal resources with impunity,” he added.
IFP spokesperson in the Zululand district, Bhekinkosi Zulu, dismissed the allegations as “politicking”.
“They like to politicise matters. When it comes to the employment of municipal managers, the MEC for Cogta has the final word. Council only recommends. The ANC is politicking,” Zulu said.
DA chief whip in Abaqulusi, Swelakhe Shelembe, has asked council speaker Michael Khumalo to launch an investigation and called for a skills audit of all employees.
Shelembe has said that Dhlamini’s CV had diplomas and a master’s certificate attached when he was interviewed, which must now be sent to the SA Qualifications Authority for verification.
Dhlamini is a former director of corporate services and acting municipal manager of Ulundi Local Municipality. He served 14 years as a police officer before branching out into politics. He was a councilor in Ulundi before he became an administrator.
Dhlamini declined to comment.
