Alex Matlala and Frank Maponya

Alex Matlala and Frank Maponya

It's back to the drawing board for the council of the BaPhalaborwa municipality in Limpopo.

This is after Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who was tipped to become the municipal manager, rejected the offer yesterday.

Ntshavheni, who is currently on a scholarship in Canada, told Sowetan in a trans-Atlantic interview yesterday that she was not available to take up the job offer.

She said she was concentrating on her studies.

"I'm not going to take that position," Ntshavheni said.

She confirmed, however, that she had attended interviews for the position but had to reconsider after being awarded the scholarship.

The council had recommended Ntshavheni's appointment after the position was vacant for a year.

The recommendation came after the person acting in the position, Anderson Mudunungu, resigned from the beleaguered municipality.

Council speaker David Maake said yesterday the position would be re-advertised.

"After the latest developments about Ntshavheni we are left with no other option but to re-advertise," Maake said.

He said the council will hold a special sitting before the end of the week to decide on its next move.

Meanwhile, mayor Gloria Valoyi was adamant Ntshavheni would take up the offer.

She said yesterday Ntshavheni had indicated she would only be available from March 1, a claim Ntshavheni rejected.

Ntshavheni is on a one-year scholarship worth R1million, which is expected to end in September.