11-05-2025
Ugu council appoints Vela Mazibuko as MM
Messages of congratulations were directed at Ugu District Municipality's acting municipal manager, Vela Owen Mazibuko, on social media last week for being appointed municipal manager, a post which has been vacant for some time.
Ugu municipal spokesperson France Zama said the recruitment process for the position of municipal manager was at an advanced stage.
Zama said on April 17, the Ugu Council considered a report from the Recruitment and Selection panel, which presented a suitable candidate with prescribed skills and competencies for the vacant position of municipal manager.
'After due consideration, council unanimously resolved to appoint Vela Owen Mazibuko as municipal manager, subject to obtaining a concurrence from the KZN MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Rev Thulasizwe Buthelezi. Once a concurrence has been obtained, an official announcement will be made as provided in the recruitment process of municipal managers,' said Zama.
Comment from Cogta had not been received at the time of going to press.
In October 2024, labour unions in Ugu opposed the appointment of a new municipal manager other than Mazibuko.
The Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (IMATU) and the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) previously told Fever that Umzumbe municipal manager, Nandi Dlamini, was preferred by Ugu's Executive Committee (Exco) members.
This was confirmed by some Exco members.
Lungisa Njiyela, IMATU's Ugu chairperson, said they were shocked to learn about Dlamini's possible appointment at the cost of Mazibuko, who has acted in the position for more than two years.
'We normally do not interfere with the nomination of senior administrators in municipalities, but the situation in Ugu requires us to make a statement. Mazibuko has effectively guided the ship through difficult conditions at Ugu. We at IMATU strongly support and recommend that Mazibuko be allowed to fulfil his tasks of fully returning the municipality to its former grandeur. We warn the council that their conduct may lead to and have unfavourable effects,' said Njiyela.
After Mazibuko's appointment, Njiyela said they welcomed the decision and wished him well in his new position.
Also, SAMWU's Mthandeni Ngcobo previously said they had written to Ugu mayor Sikhumbuzo Mqadi and the council to challenge the hiring process.
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