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Blow for Mpuma 2010 effort
01/02/2007 13:30 - (SA)
Guy Jepson
Nelspruit - Mpumalanga's preparations for the 2010 World Cup have been dealt a setback with the sacking of a key council official.
Differ Mogale, the man responsible for co-ordinating planning for the soccer showcase in Nelspruit, has been given his marching orders by the Mbombela local municipality.
The decision, taken at a council meeting on Monday, comes six weeks after work started on the construction of a R920m World Cup soccer stadium in the Mpumalanga capital.
The council decided to annul Mogale's contract on the basis that the municipal manager, Jacob Dladla, was not authorised to appoint him.
Mogale was appointed as co-ordinator of Nelspruit's 2010 campaign in November last year at a reported annual salary of R480 000.
His axing comes amid claims of infighting in the ANC-controlled council, with divisions reportedly emerging over the awarding of the stadium tender and the appointments of Dladla and Mogale.
Council spokesperson Vusi Sibiya confirmed that Mogale's
appointment had been annulled.
"The council decided that the position of the 2010 co-ordinator was a Section 57 post, meaning that only the council can make the appointment," he said.
Asked how Mogale's sacking would affect Nelspruit's preparations for the World Cup, Sibiya said there was "no way the annulling of the appointment will sidetrack our 2010 plans".
He said before Mogale was appointed, a co-ordinating team was in the charge of the municipality's 2010 preparations and the team was still in place.
But Democratic Alliance provincial sports and culture spokesperson Anthony Benadie expressed alarm at Mogale's dismissal, blaming it on "ANC infighting".
The DA would ask the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and Fifa's local organising committee to intervene, Benadie said, adding that "petty political squabbles" could cost Mpumalanga its chances of hosting World Cup matches.
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