The already struggling Nketoana municipality in the Free State has allegedly conducted irregular appointments, which could result in the wage bill ballooning by R3.6-million.
This is according to the memo from the chief financial officer, Jabulani Makubu, to the director of corporate services, Lisebo Motaung, as seen by Sunday World.
Makubu said there were discrepancies identified from the list and contracts of people appointed. The latter were contracted within the technical services directorate as general workers.
28 persons may cost municipality over R3,6m annually
He said while only 43 posts were advertised for the position, there were 71 people appointed. These matters needed to be dealt with before those appointed are added to the municipality’s payroll, he added.
“In summary, there are 28 allegedly appointed persons whose posts were not advertised. To quantify this, these 28 persons would cost the municipality R3 620 131.48 per annum in basic salaries only. This would be regarded as irregular expenditure as the appointments are deemed to be irregular,” said Makubu.
He said Motaung was responsible for cutting off irregular, unauthorised, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure and any other loss.
“I further wish to draw your attention to MFMA 171(3)(c) of the MFMA. It …states that a senior manager commits an act of financial misconduct if they deliberately or negligently make an unauthorised, irregular or fruitless and wasteful expenditure,” said Makubu.
“None of the lists and contracts provided to the financial department can be processed until all discrepancies have been rectified and/or the discrepancies explained.”
DA wants appointments reversed
The DA in Nketoana is also calling for urgent action to reverse an alleged fraudulent and unlawful appointments made within the municipality.
Diphapang Mofokeng, DA councillor at Nketoana, announced that the party intends to write to the municipal manager, urging an investigation.
He also calls for the application of consequence management regarding irregular recruitment and selection processes in the community services and technical services directorates.
“After careful consideration, we have noted administrative errors and irregular and unlawful appointments in the recruitment processes mentioned,” said Mofokeng.
Some candidates appointed without being interviewed
He raised several concerns, including candidates being appointed despite not attending formal interviews. And a mismatch between the number of posts advertised and the number of people hired.
Mofokeng further highlighted that some candidates were appointed to positions that were never advertised. And in some cases, everyone who attended an interview was hired.
It also emerged that some of the interview panellists were related to the candidates they were assessing.
“This action will result in irregular expenditures. This …as some posts are not budgeted for and are, as such, unauthorised. If these appointments are not nullified, salaries for staff going forward will not be guaranteed,” said Mofokeng.
Municipality staff salaries may be affected
He that with the revenue collection of only 30%, the municipality may soon be unable to pay its employees. Possibly starting at end of June.
The DA has called on the Speaker to convene a special council sitting to consider a report from Motaung. The latter oversees these processes.
The aim, he said, is to review and set aside the appointments in question.
