The Free State's Mangaung Metro Municipality is again facing severe allegations of unlawful and irregular staff appointments, Mangaung Seven (M7), the seven former councillors of the municipality, have lodged an official complaint with the Public Protector's office.
The organisation has raised concerns about a series of appointments made in the municipality, which it claims violate several legal frameworks governing local government operations. M7 insists these appointments were made with full knowledge of the legal implications and therefore should be investigated thoroughly.
In its complaint, M7 outlines numerous instances where staff appointments at Mangaung Metro appear to contravene the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act and the Municipal Staff Regulations of 2021.
According to M7, the municipal leadership, including City Manager Mr. Sello More, actively circumvented legal provisions by either creating posts without council approval or appointing individuals without following mandatory procedures such as advertising vacancies or conducting fair interviews.
The organisation points out that these irregularities are not isolated incidents. The Auditor-General and the municipality's internal audits have consistently raised red flags over similar appointments in the past, yet the municipality appears to have taken no corrective actions. M7 argues that the persistence of these unlawful appointments signals a broader issue of maladministration and a disregard for good governance practices.
One of the major concerns is the appointment of four specialists in the City Manager's office in late 2023. These positions, which were not part of the municipality’s approved staff establishment, were created specifically for the individuals concerned. M7 claims that the City Manager used a discretionary power, which according to the amended Systems Act, no longer allows such unilateral decisions.
This action is said to be a clear violation of the legislative framework.M7 also points out that between November and December 2023, several temporary appointments were made in various departments, including Public Safety and Planning.
While some of these appointments were initially temporary, M7 alleges that individuals were later made permanent, suggesting a deliberate strategy to bypass proper recruitment procedures. Additionally, several appointments were made using the "headhunting" clause in the municipality’s employment policy, which M7 argues was misapplied in these instances.
The complaint has drawn attention to a broader pattern of disregard for transparency and accountability in local government employment practices. The regulations governing municipal staff appointments stipulate that all vacancies must be advertised and that candidates must meet specific qualifications before being appointed.
Furthermore, the positions must be included in the approved staff establishment, with the necessary budget in place.M7’s complaint specifically calls for an investigation into the roles played by various municipal officials, including Mr. Sello More, the City Manager; Mr. Mokete Duma, the former Head of Corporate Services; and other key officials in various departments. The organization argues that these individuals should be held accountable for what it describes as "maladministration" that undermines the principles of good governance, fairness, and transparency.
The Mangaung Metro Municipality, which includes the city of Bloemfontein, has long struggled with allegations of financial mismanagement, corruption, and inefficiency.
The ongoing concerns about staff appointments and the apparent lack of action to address these issues have only intensified calls for intervention by higher authorities.M7, in its submission, has asked the Public Protector to recommend appropriate actions and remedies should the investigation confirm that the municipality violated the legal provisions governing public service appointments.
The outcome of this investigation will be closely watched, as it could have significant implications for the future of governance in Mangaung and serve as a warning to other municipalities across the country about the consequences of ignoring legal and ethical recruitment standards.