Jobs-for-sex report finalised

2004-01-07 22:11

Sizwe samaYende

Makhado - The municipal council will convene an urgent meeting to discuss a final ad hoc committee report on rampant claims of 'jobs-for-sex', nepotism and 'jobs-for-sale' in the municipality.

Makhado mayor Sariel Nkuzana said on Wednesday the five-member committee had presented the report to him, and he would table it before council for a decision.

The committee also investigated allegations that municipal manager Reuben Rambado was irregularly paid a R110 000 performance bonus by Nkuzana's fired predecessor, Brighton Tlakula, in December 2002.

"I'm not at liberty to release the report before the council deliberates on the findings and makes a final decision on whether we need to assemble a fully-fledged commission of inquiry," Nkuzana said.

"I will ask the council speaker to convene an urgent meeting to deal with the report," he added.

Opposition parties hurled a barrage of criticism at the committee because it comprised only African National Congress members.

Refused to give back his bonus

The parties also claim the members lack the expertise to dothe job.

Rambado has insisted, meanwhile, that he deserved the R110 000 Christmas payout and would not reimburse the taxpayers.

The council was not given a chance to ratify the bonus nor was Rambado's performance ever evaluated before he pocketed the money.

Independent labour law experts, who were hired to advise the council on the matter, concluded the manager didn't deserve the bonus, and recommended he should be charged for misconduct.

Lawyers pointed out that Rambado signed an employment contract only on August 2 2002 and it was impossible that his performance could have been assessed by November since assessment should take place over a one-year period.

Nkuzana said that he wanted the matter to be laid to rest as soon as possible.

"Ordinary people and the media were making a lot of noise before I was appointed as a mayor in September (last year), so I had to act to restore public confidence in the institution," said Nkuzana.

- African Eye