Alex Matlala

Alex Matlala

When Trade and Investment Limpopo (TIL) sent a senior official to Canada on a R1million scholarship it expected her to plough the expertise she gained oversees back into the parastatal.

But the official, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, has instead accepted a job offer elsewhere.

TIL is a parastatal responsible for marketing the province.

Ntshavheni, 30, has been appointed municipal manager for the troubled Greater BaPhala- borwa municipality.

This came into effect on Monday. She left TIL in September last year to further her studies in Canada with a view to giving the parastatal the benefit of her newly acquired expertise.

Her appointment to the munici- pality has been the subject of controversy after allegations that she was favoured to take up the position despite her study commitments.

She was earlier rumoured to be expected back in the country in September, but Ntshavheni surprised all and sundry when she turned up for the job this week.

Ntshavheni, who is also a youth leader in the province, was allegedly favoured by the ANCYL to take up the job as manager.

TIL acting chief executive Julius Mapatha said yesterday that they were still expecting Ntshavheni to work for them.

But he said he was aware of the latest developments and wished Ntshavheni the best of luck in her new endeavours.

BaPhalaborwa mayor Gloria Valoyi said she hoped Ntshavheni's expertise would add value to the municipality.