By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GalloImages.
The City of Ekurhuleni has appointed Jongizizwe Dlabathi to replace Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) Nkululeko Dunga as the Finance MMC in the metro.
Dlabathi is an internal auditor by profession, having worked in the Office of South Africa’s Auditor General. He also served an information systems and performance auditor for the City of Johannesburg.
“With his wealth of knowledge and experience in local government, we are optimistic that he will live up to expectations amid the current challenges faced by the portfolio, “said Moipone Mhlongo, Ekurhuleni ANC’s Regional Task Team Deputy Coordinator.
The new MMC described the removal of Dunga in June as a “justifiable decision”.
At the time, he noted the municipality’s poor financial position had been a cause for concern and that opportunities to rectify the situation had been wasted.
A recent governance update report showed that fundamental weaknesses were present in the formulation of the upcoming budget.
He outlined the characteristics needed for the position, stating: “We firmly believe that every member of the mayoral committee must be committed to a coordinated way of governance, under the guidance of the executive mayor.”
In the 2022/23 financial year, Ekurhuleni was one of only two metros in South Africa to receive a clean audit outcome. A year later, it had lost its status, with its financial predicament seemingly deepening.
The Auditor-General had flagged concerns about Ekurhuleni’s irregular expenditure of more than R20-million and noted the City’s weak internal mechanisms on contract, procurement and supply chain management.
Dunga’s axing could signal an end to the ANC-EFF marriage which has succeeded in removing DA mayors in Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg and Mogale City.