Tug of war taking place within Mangaung Metro’s management

If you think the Mangaung Metro Municipality is only struggling with service delivery, think again.

Leaked letters paint a concerning picture that shows the municipality is in a state of chaos from an administration perspective and there is no way in hell that a municipality can run its operations smoothly and clearly when the centre is not holding.

While it’s not clear why, Mathapelo Masisi, the general manager responsible for supply chain management at Mangaung, is moved back to the finance/budget division after reducing the fruitless expenditure, her position is a bone of contention.

On the 7th March 2022, Mzi Nkungwana, acting city manager wrote to Fundani Molaba, that with effect from 9th March 2022, the general manager supply chain management – Mathapelo Masisi will be returning to her position thus Molaba must return to his general manager: institutional compliance.

A move insiders, say, was to pave a way for Masisi to come back.

A day later, 8th March 2022, Sabata Mofokeng, chief executive officer (CEO) wrote two letters, one to SCM officials informing them that the letter by the acting city manager is unlawful and invalid and the other one to Fundani Molaba informing him he will remain general manager – SCM till he gets instructions from him (CFO).

“The purpose of this communication/communiqué is to notify all supply chain management officials in the city that Mr Fundani Molaba is the duly appointed general manager – supply chain management and you are requested to continue supporting and reporting to him until instructed otherwise by the chief financial officer.

Any other instructions/directives other than that of the chief financial officer on the abovementioned matter, will be unlawful as proper administrative procedures would not have been followed,” reads a letter to SCM officials.

“The acting city manager’s decision to remove you from supply chain management is unlawful and invalid as administrative and legal processes were not adhered to.

You are expected to still carry out all the functions and responsibilities of the abovementioned position in the line with legislation and council approved policies,” reads the letters to Fundani Molaba.

Mangaung Metro is fast competing with the covid-19 and Russia invasion of Ukraine for unnecessary and unprovoked attention and with zero covid-19 cases reported, Mangaung Metro is getting all the attention.

Sources within Mangaung Metro allege Fundani Molaba’s original post is GM: supply chain and he was removed by, Adv Tankiso Mea, former City Manager who appointed Mathapelo Masisi as GM: supply chain and she reduced fruitless expenditure.

What is interesting is it looks like everyone wants to have their preferences over supply chain.

In all these where is the Executive Mayor, MEC for COGTA, Premier or the Interim Provincial Committee?

Mzi Nkungwana, acting City Manager and Mxolisi Siyonzana, Mangaung Metro Executive Mayor didn’t respond to our questions at the time of publishing the story while Sabata Mofokeng, Chief Financial Officer referred us to Qondile Khedama, MMM spokesperson.

This is a developing story.

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