By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The City of Johannesburg Council has approved a ratification report formalising Tshepo Makola’s appointment as acting city manager until 31 March 2025.
The decision was made during an extraordinary council meeting on Friday.
In a house full of 242 councillors, 139 voted in favour of the move, 60 voted against and 41 abstained.
Last month, the Johannesburg High Court ordered Floyd Brink to relinquish his permanent appointment as municipal manager within 10 days or as soon as an acting manager was appointed.
It ruled that his appointment was irregular, citing that he did not pass the vetting process and was not the most qualified candidate for the position.
Makola was officially appointed as manager in an extraordinary sitting in Braamfontein, Johannesburg on Friday.
Group corporate and shared services MMC Loyiso Masuku said mayor Dada Morero was within his rights to announce Makola for the job.
“We abided by the decision of the court. I draw council’s attention to council delegations approved by a council meeting of June 13 2013. Appointment of the acting city manager is the responsibility of council and can be delegated from council to the mayor.”
Masuku said there are 54 council delegations of which some are delegated from the mayor to the city manager and extending to the CFO and some group executive directors.
“The recommendations are for council to note the contents of the report and ratify the decision. It is clear this is an acting position and will not exceed three months as stipulated.”
Masuku told the opposition they were welcome to contest the council delegation. “There have been many changes in government over the years. If there is a caucus that feels group governance needs to review council delegations they can do so by engaging the executive and through the section 79 committees.”
The Democratic Alliance (DA questioned Morero’s decision to appoint Makola as acting city manager without the approval of the municipal council.
DA caucus leader Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku cited the Municipal Systems Act, which delegates the responsibility of appointing an acting city manager to the council.