MPUMALANGA MEC for corporate governance and traditional affairs Norman Mokoena says the continued suspension of Nkomazi municipal manager Sabelo Shabangu needs "decisive political intervention".

Shabangu was suspended on November 4 last year after allegations of irregularities and maladministration.

Mokoena compiled a report, a copy of which Sowetan has, on protest actions in municipalities.

"The issue of the suspended manager remains unresolved," Mokoena says in the report. "It has the potential to have a negative impact if it is not resolved timeously."

Sowetan has also learnt that Mokoena handed another report, titled Section 106, to the municipality three weeks ago but that the municipality is dragging its feet in tabling it to the council.

"The MEC has given ... the report to the municipality for consideration but I do not want to go into details ... yet," Kunene said yesterday.

Among other things the report is said to implicate chief financial officer Sheila Mabaso in serious corruption relating to contract documents.

Shabangu initially charged Mabaso with the same allegations but the former was instead suspended about five days later.

It is understood that Mabaso is holding the council to ransom, saying if she were charged she would open a can of worms against full-time councillors.

Repeated attempts to speak to Mabaso proved fruitless since her phone kept on ringing unanswered yesterday.