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ANC power play alleged in City Power CEO hunt

By Bongani Mdakane
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JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 03: Jack Sekwaila (MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services​) briefs the media on system recovery following Rand Water maintenance at Joburg Water Head Office on June 03, 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The briefing provided an update on the progress made in restoring storage levels across the City's reservoirs and towers, the status of affected systems and areas, operational interventions currently underway and ongoing efforts to support customers in areas still experiencing supply challenges. (Photo by Gallo Images/Luba Lesolle)

City of Johannesburg MMC Jack Sekwaila allegedly left the venue of the City Power CEO interviews after receiving a phone call from ANC Johannesburg secretary Sasabona Manganye, in what sources claim was an attempt to collapse the June 23 sitting after a candidate linked to Manganye was allegedly not shortlisted.

The interviews were scheduled to take place at City Power’s head office in Reuven, Johannesburg. Sekwaila was expected to sit on the interview panel in his capacity as MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, which oversees City Power.

Sekwaila yesterday denied that he ran away from the interviews but confirmed that he did not proceed with the sitting on the day.

“I think I took sick leave. Was it last week? I came back the following week on Tuesday. We had interviews done, and we are just waiting for the board to process the results.”

He said the claims involving Manganye were unfounded. “I also came across those claims. I also spoke to him (Manganye) that this thing (CEO position) should be pushed by all means necessary, as soon as possible.”

After Sunday World sent questions to Manganye, the reporter received a call from a colleague from another publication who claimed to be intervening on Manganye’s behalf and asked that the story not be published.

Manganye confirmed that he spoke to the person but denied that he issued a request for intervention. He also denied interfering in the City Power CEO recruitment process.

“I had no role whatsoever in the scheduling, postponement or conduct of the City Power CEO interviews. I have not influenced the shortlisting, interviewing or appointment of any candidate,” said Manganye.

He denied threatening Sekwaila.

“I have never sought to influence the process in favour of any individual candidate. I reject any suggestion that I interfered.”

Sources said Sekwaila was at the venue and ready to participate in the interviews when he allegedly received a call from Manganye.

Manganye allegedly told Sekwaila to leave the venue so the panel would lack a quorum and the interviews would stop. “He was warned that if he didn’t comply, he would be taken to the cleaners.”

Sources said Sekwaila told panel members he had to leave because of a serious family emergency.

A senior city official stated that Sekwaila later informed his colleagues that Manganye “told him to collapse the interviews, as there was no way everything could proceed without the secretary’s preferred candidate being on the list”.

The official alleged that the dispute related to Nancy Maluleke, an executive engineering professional who serves as special adviser for projects in sustainable energy. Sources reported that the interviews held on Thursday later included Maluleke.

City of Johannesburg group head of governance, Adv Mlandu Kona, said the recruitment process had not collapsed. “The City of Johannesburg remains committed to a lawful, fair, transparent, and compliant recruitment process,” said Kona.

He said Manganye was not part of the recruitment process. “He is neither an employee nor an official of the City of Johannesburg,” said Kona.

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the entity was not responsible for the CEO appointment process.

 

 

  • Johannesburg MMC Jack Sekwaila reportedly exited the City Power CEO interview venue following a phone call from ANC Johannesburg secretary Sasabona Manganye.
  • Sources allege the call aimed to disrupt the June 23 interview session.
  • The disruption was linked to the non-shortlisting of a candidate associated with Manganye.
  • The incident raises concerns about political interference in the City Power recruitment process.
  • Further details are available in the Sunday World e-edition.
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City of Johannesburg MMC Jack Sekwaila allegedly left the venue of the City Power CEO interviews after receiving a phone call from ANC Johannesburg secretary Sasabona Manganye, in what sources claim was an attempt to collapse the June 23 sitting after a candidate linked to Manganye was allegedly not shortlisted.

The interviews were scheduled to take place at City Power’s head office in Reuven, Johannesburg. Sekwaila was expected to sit on the interview panel in his capacity as MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, which oversees City Power.

Sekwaila yesterday denied that he ran away from the interviews but confirmed that he did not proceed with the sitting on the day.

“I think I took sick leave. Was it last week? I came back the following week on Tuesday. We had interviews done, and we are just waiting for the board to process the results.”

He said the claims involving Manganye were unfounded. “I also came across those claims. I also spoke to him (Manganye) that this thing (CEO position) should be pushed by all means necessary, as soon as possible.”

After Sunday World sent questions to Manganye, the reporter received a call from a colleague from another publication who claimed to be intervening on Manganye’s behalf and asked that the story not be published.

Manganye confirmed that he spoke to the person but denied that he issued a request for intervention. He also denied interfering in the City Power CEO recruitment process.

“I had no role whatsoever in the scheduling, postponement or conduct of the City Power CEO interviews. I have not influenced the shortlisting, interviewing or appointment of any candidate,” said Manganye.

He denied threatening Sekwaila.

“I have never sought to influence the process in favour of any individual candidate. I reject any suggestion that I interfered.”

Sources said Sekwaila was at the venue and ready to participate in the interviews when he allegedly received a call from Manganye.

Manganye allegedly told Sekwaila to leave the venue so the panel would lack a quorum and the interviews would stop. “He was warned that if he didn’t comply, he would be taken to the cleaners.”

Sources said Sekwaila told panel members he had to leave because of a serious family emergency.

A senior city official stated that Sekwaila later informed his colleagues that Manganye “told him to collapse the interviews, as there was no way everything could proceed without the secretary’s preferred candidate being on the list”.

The official alleged that the dispute related to Nancy Maluleke, an executive engineering professional who serves as special adviser for projects in sustainable energy. Sources reported that the interviews held on Thursday later included Maluleke.

City of Johannesburg group head of governance, Adv Mlandu Kona, said the recruitment process had not collapsed. “The City of Johannesburg remains committed to a lawful, fair, transparent, and compliant recruitment process,” said Kona.

He said Manganye was not part of the recruitment process. “He is neither an employee nor an official of the City of Johannesburg,” said Kona.

City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the entity was not responsible for the CEO appointment process.