Msunduzi manager starts work despite allegations

While the Msunduzi Municipality considers investigating serious allegations against Sizwe Hadebe, he will be wielding full authority in his position.

Durban - While the Msunduzi Municipality considers investigating allegations against its newly-appointed acting municipal manager, he will be wielding full authority in his position.

This was confirmed by mayor Chris Ndlela at an urgent press briefing on Friday, in which Ndlela said it would be premature and unfair to “jump the gun” and presume the guilt of the new acting municipal manager, Sizwe Hadebe.

“These are serious allegations that will need to be investigated by a legal team within the municipality. We need to address our concerns with Mr Hadebe himself, and hear the other side of the story and only then can we make a decision on the way forward,” Ndlela said.

He said Hadebe, once known as Adolph Slindokuhle Hadebe, had been appointed in “good faith” after the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) recommended him for the post, and they “trusted the highest office” to recommend a “suitably-qualified candidate”.

Cogta, however, maintained that Hadebe’s name was simply pulled from the department’s database and the onus was on the city to conduct a verification process.

The allegations against Hadebe, who took up office at Msunduzi on June 4, include that he allegedly resigned from his post at the Ekurhuleni Municipality as chief director of water and sanitation in 2014, after being suspended in connection with tender irregularities.

The investigation into the alleged fraud related to the suspicious award of contracts involving R100 million for the supply of electronic water meters.

According to reports by the Daily News’s sister paper, The Mercury, at the time of his suspension, Hadebe had applied for and been appointed as the deputy city manager for human settlements and infrastructure in the eThekwini Municipality.

After eThekwini was made aware of the allegations, it had decided in 2013 not to appoint him.

Ndlela confirmed on Friday that Hadebe had been appointed on a three-month contract and had yet to be formally introduced to the municipality’s executive committee.

Ndlela revealed they only became aware of the allegations through the media.

“Cogta sent us only one CV, and upon scrutiny of the CV, we appointed him,” he said.

Ndlela assured the citizens of Msunduzi that everything was being done to ensure that the matter was dealt with urgently and would not affect services.

Ndlela said the resolution taken by exco last week to appoint Hadebe was binding.

“We cannot easily take a decision outside of the mandate. There are structures we have to meet and processes that need to be followed. We will have to convene urgent meetings. However, he will remain as acting municipal manager,” he said.

Daily News