- MEC Zolile Williams has sent in new senior staff to help fix service delivery at Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
- Lonwabo Ngoqo returns despite past controversy, with Williams defending him as a victim of political targeting.
Eastern Cape Co-operative Governance MEC Zolile Williams has announced the appointment of new leadership at Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to help fix service delivery issues.
On Tuesday morning, Williams introduced Sarah Baartman District Municipal Manager Ted Pillay as the metro’s acting city manager and Lonwabo Ngoqo as the acting chief operations officer (COO).
This follows the council’s refusal to renew the contract of former acting city manager Mandla George, who was also seconded by the province.
Instead, the council asked the MEC to intervene under section 154 of the Constitution.
Section 154 requires national and provincial governments to support and strengthen municipalities to perform their duties.
Speaking at the announcement, Williams said the appointments were made in response to the council’s request.
“We’ve therefore decided to deploy these two officials but we are actually bringing four, two other resources in the form of support in the technical services department and a support in supply chain, and such resources will be immediately deployed to unlock service delivery,” he said.
The municipality has been without a city manager since Noxolo Nqwazi was suspended in October 2023.
She is accused of violating the Municipal Finance Management Act and the Municipal Systems Act.
Ngoqo replaces former COO Christopher Dyani who resigned last month.
Williams said both Pillay and Ngoqo were chosen from the department’s list of experienced accounting officers and have worked in several municipalities.
Ngoqo is not new to NMBM. He was appointed as city manager in 2022, but the court later ruled the decision invalid.
The DA opposed his appointment because of his past.
He was fired from his position as municipal manager of Bitou in 2012 after being found guilty on four misconduct charges.
That municipality had paid R23-million for land worth only R2.4-million.
But Williams defended Ngoqo, saying he was targeted for political reasons and has since been cleared.
“There is no case against him, criminal or disciplinary case. He went to the labour court to challenge a political removal from office. Between 2008 and 2012, there was a change of administration in that municipality where he was to a different political party. He was the first target, and they found something in relation to Human Settlements but that could not stand because the labour court dismissed it,” Williams said.
To prove his innocence, Williams added that Ngoqo was reappointed as municipal manager between 2019 and 2021.
Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe welcomed the new appointments and said they were ready to get to work.
“We welcome these appointments. We will hit the ground running to fast-track service delivery issues, prioritise the flood related infrastructure interventions in Kariega and other affected areas,” said Lobishe.
Pictured above: Cogta MEC Zolile Williams with NMBM Mayor Babalwa Lobishe, and newly appointed NMBM senior managers.
Image source: Anita Dangazele
