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By OBAKENG MAJE

North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Mmoloki Cwaile is under fire after being accused of misconduct after he allegedly approved an ‘irregular’ contract worth R1, 476,321.74.

This comes after the department appointed a private company, Kone Solutions (PTY) LTD to conduct recruitment process on its behalf. Now, a ‘whistleblower’ within the department who did not want to be named for fear of reprisal said, the contract was irregular and he was ignored even though he tried to warn Cwaile about the imminent danger of approving it. 

“There are upheavals and misappropriations taking place at this department. However, when we highlight that, we are regarded as disruptive and receive hostile treatment. The department appointed Kone Solutions (PTY) LTD to conduct recruitment process for 35 vacant and funded positions with the department.

“This was approved by Cwaile after raising concern regarding the snail pace at which the department is performing regarding the filling of those positions. The appointed company was expected to advertise vacant and funded positions, which include full-service handling, advertise vacant positions, response handling from screening to placement,” he said.

Our source added: “Even though the company is engaged in a transversal contract with the department, seeking approval for deviation from Provincial Treasury could be irregular because full services response handling screening and placement is not part of the contract.”

However, Cwaile refuted the allegations and described them as absurd. He also said even though Kone Solutions (PTY) LTD was not appointed by him, he decided to bring the contract to a grinding halt.  

“This is just a lame attempt from my detractors who want to discredit me because I have uncovered malfeasance at the department. I can tell you now, most employees at the department were hired on nepotism basis.

“In most cases, you will find that all employees at the department are related. The senior managers call their friends, colleagues, and relatives to fill the vacancies regardless of their knowledge, skill, and experience,” Cwaile said.

He further said Kone Solutions (PTY) LTD contract was not irregular because there was an allocation of budget and all the time, the company has been doing business with the department including the North West Provincial Government (NWPG) and national government. Cwaile added that the company had engaged in a transversal contract and it has been appointed by the National Treasury.

“All government departments in the province advertise their tenders through this company. All tenders advertised by departments in the province are written Kone Solutions (PTY) LTD at the bottom. So, there is no single department that advertises posts on its own because that job is done by this company.

“Kone Solutions (PTY) LTD was appointed to advertise, but in terms of their contract, they can shortlist. However, after performing these duties, they will hand over that work to government departments to conduct interviews,” said Cwaile.

He said the reason why they wanted to delegate the recruitment process to Kone Solutions (PTY) LTD is because there is a scenario where some of employees who process vacant posts from the Human Resources Management, only serve themselves.

“Sometimes these employees withhold other requirements when advertising to the public to ensure that these posts favour them. But the important part about appointing Kone Solutions (PTY) LTD was that Directors and Head of Department (HOD) cannot go and sit in a panel of level 5, while there are assistant directors.

“Firstly, when you look at the Human Settlements Department has a shortage of staff. However, we will see all senior managers fighting to be in the panel of level 5, while they were supposed to be doing something fruitful with their time,” he said.

Cwaile said despite inheritance of some challenges from the former homeland of the Bophuthatswana government, most of the personnel who were supposed to process these vacant posts are unqualified and do not even have matric certificates,” he said.

Cwaile said his department has over 200 vacant posts with a budget of R600 million.

taungdailynews@gmail.com

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By OBAKENG MAJE  

North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (COGHSTA), Mmoloki Cwaile said municipalities continue to be in ‘a dire state’ despite the important intervention unilaterally imposed to them by inter-government.

According to reports, most municipalities in the province are either bankrupt or dysfunctional.

Cwaile said his department may liquefy few municipalities soon.

“As the department, we continue to interact and engage different authorities, stakeholders and role-players with active intention of finding progressive and responsive solutions to the challenges facing the municipalities in the province.

“We are also considering invocation of Section 139 1(c) and that means we might dissolve some of the municipalities, especially those who are resisting the intervention and assistance of the province, MISA, or other role players from national,” he said.

He further said they are also considering how they can re-package Section 154 and provide support to other municipalities that need support. Cwaile said they consider all the options, including the business rescue, where the national department might have to take some municipalities.

Even though Cwaile said they are determined to find solutions to the challenges facing all these municipalities, some of the municipal officials oppose the interventions utilizing provisions of Section 139 (c).

Tswaing, Kgetlengrivier, Ditsobotla, and Ratlou Local Municipalities are expected to be dissolved in near future.

Meanwhile, the North West MEC for Treasury, Motlalepula Rosho said this during her departmental budget speech: “The material governance shortcomings in the local government sphere has resulted in municipalities not being able to appreciate, embrace, absorb and internalise the support and capacity building measures provided by the Provincial Treasury.

“This has further dampened the state of the municipal financial health, resulting in the current negative audit outcomes and poor financial management that we continue to experience and witness.”  

She said there is no contestation and the municipalities are operating under severe financial crisis. Rosho further said this calls for urgent and intensified action to be taken to avoid a total collapse of municipalities.

“Section 139 (5) of the Constitution read together with Chapter 13 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) mandates the provincial Government to intervene in those municipalities that have been identified to be operating under severe financial crisis.

“The department collaboration with COGHSTA department has developed the roadmap that details specific mandatory interventions that will be implemented in municipalities operating under severe financial crisis,” said Rosho.

She said consultative sessions were held with mayors of municipalities, National and Provincial department of COGHTSA as well as National Treasury, focusing on municipalities that have been operating under financial crisis.

Rosho said resultantly, her department in collaboration with COGHSTA and SALGA, will be providing extensive and comprehensive training on sound financial management principles to the newly-elected councillors.

“This capacity building initiative will be geared towards ensuring that the newly-elected councillors acquire in-depth knowledge and understanding of financial management elements that should enhance their oversight role and accountability of the incoming administrations.

“The Provincial Treasury is expected to support and assist municipalities in building their capacity for efficient, effective, and transparent financial management in line with Section 154 of the Constitution read together with Section 34 of the Municipal Finance Management Act,” said Rosho.

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