Call for public protector to probe one-day MBA manager’s appointment
The Democratic Alliance caucus has vowed to take up the issue of Monica Mngadi’s appointment as municipal manager at the uMgungundlovu District Municipality with the public protector.
This was announced by Mike Bond, finance committee member of the council, yesterday.
Bond confirmed that Mngadi’s annual package is R950 004 — or R79 167 per month.
Questions surrounding the appointment of Mngadi have been flowing thick and fast, as calls continue to be made for her to verify her qualifications by producing certificates, which are absent on her CV.
“Why is she stalling if she has nothing to hide?” is the question on the lips of many.
Mngadi’s credentials have raised eyebrows after it was revealed that the “Dr” title she uses is an honorary doctorate bestowed by the Life Time Bible College School of Theology, which is not listed on the Internet or on the SA Qualifications Authority’s database.
Mngadi also states that she holds an MBA, but the only supporting document related to this on her CV is a certificate for a one-day MBA course.
And besides the furore over her qualifications, a local government expert, who asked not to be named, raised the issue of her apparent lack of on-the-job working experience.
The source also said that the running of a district municipality is very focused on a co-ordinating role. “How do you co-ordinate the workings of all the municipalities under the district when you have so little working knowledge of municipal matters?”
The district municipality controls functions of the Msunduzi, Umshwati (New Hanover), uMngeni (Howick), Mpofana (Mooi River), Impendle, Mkhambathini (Camperdown) and Richmond municipalities.
The source was incredulous that, having just weathered a storm over the awarding of a R1,3 million grant to the National African Federation Chamber of Commerce (Nafcoc) fronted by Lucky Moloi — who is believed to be a close friend of the mayor — they should become entangled in yet another controversial issue so soon. “It’s political suicide.”
Yet another source who is well versed in local government said that even a person highly qualified in local government would have trouble controlling the complexities of a district function with so little experience.
He raised questions about her capacity to govern with only a year in local government. “One of the biggest challenges in local government is the lack of capacity, and the council is taking a huge risk
hiring her if her credentials are not up to scratch. She is the accounting officer now.” The source said the biggest challenge is that local government is the sphere of governance closest to the people on the ground, and hence, the taxpayer.
Meanwhile, close sources within the district have said that Mayor Bongi Sithole is determined to root out whomever has been speaking out against Mngadi. “She is furious that the press has got hold of this.”
So, it seems, the heat is definitely on.
Approached for comment, Sithole said that she had nothing to say to The Witness, but would be issuing a statement in due course. She was at the premier’s office yesterday morning and speculation was rife as to whether she had been summoned there. Mngadi did not return messages from The Witness left at her office.
The Witness is currently attempting to verify her qualifications where possible.
