Mthimunye left his job at Dr JS Moroka municipality in Siyabuswa under a cloud after the Pretoria High Court ordered the municipality to pay a former clerk R1.3-million after she had sued for sexual harassment.

In January the municipality had to pay R549,000 when 11 of its vehicles were attached by the sheriff of the court after the it failed to pay legal costs and damages awarded to the successful litigant.

Mthimunye then joined the Naledi municipality in Vryburg where he was later suspended for allegedly inflating the value of a traffic department tender and also awarding it without following proper procedure.

He has now been appointed eMalahleni's municipal manager despite the dark cloud hanging over him.

Incidentally, Mthimunye's appointment comes in the wake of the ANC's recent public release of a document that calls for the ruling party's renewal.

In the document, the party, inter alia, calls for a 10-year programme of action to build "a contingent of new cadres who are politically conscious, professionally competent and morally conscientious".

Given his tract record, Mthimunye hardly fits this profile. Of even more concern is the profile of those who appointed him.

Their action goes against the grain of the kind of leadership the ANC requires to attain its historical mission of improving the lives of all South Africans.

It also does nothing to challenge the notion that this country's problems have little or nothing to do with the quality of leadership, but more to do with the fact that "South Africa is not a democracy but a monocracy".

Monocracy describes a situation where the voters hardly have an alternative when it comes to voting for a party that they want to lead the country.

Voting trends have shown that currently almost two-thirds of South African voters hardly have an alternative to the ANC. This, unfortunately, disables the citizens to play their role as agents of change.

This means political power is largely unchecked. The outcome is cronyism, widespread corruption and a situation where patronage replaces merit. We believe Mthimunye's case is typical of what happens in a monocracy.

Comments

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Wed Jun 19 22:37:42 SAST 2013 ::

Apr 17, 2012

SeshegoGuY

This is a Disgrace
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Apr 17, 2012

KeRataBasadi

We've been having it.
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Apr 17, 2012

Bhakajuju

I have relatives @ Siyabuswa (Kwandebele-MP) and when he was municipal manager there people were complaining about his conduct. He was described as one horney, bossy and dishonest comrade. So his appointment is really questionable...kazi what does the province of MP owe this dude? cause it seems like they cannot, or rather, would not get rid of him!!!
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Apr 17, 2012

RobinH

I agree that this is a disgrace, but on the other hand I am not remotely surprised. Nor am I surprised by the fact that not a single eyebrow has been raised in question by the senior party leadership. It is simply a graphic demonstration of the utter hypocrisy inherent in this worthless call to action. There is clearly absolutely no intention to implement such an initiative.
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Apr 17, 2012

TKay

and the right men for this jobs are always left behind
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Apr 17, 2012

Ann

yep, go neng ke senda di applications ,mxm!
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Apr 17, 2012

Sinudeity

Nothing new. Richard Mluli is the epitome of the ANC.
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Apr 17, 2012

Magwabane

Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities yini nikhamisile nithuleleni.
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Apr 17, 2012

Preeze

I refer to the following article (over and above that of Khoza):

http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/columnists/2012/04/17/state-not-leaders-is-primary

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Apr 17, 2012

MissBhakajuju

he's not the only one wrong for his job. start counting from the Head of the Country, or should I say the 2headed of the country.
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