Nokwanda Dlangamandla | kzn@radioislam.org.za
2 min read | 13:20 PM (CAT)

Photo Credit: Amatola Water

Bulk water supply and sanitation services utility Amatola Water in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape has been without a permanent CEO for months.

It has been reported that the reason for this is that Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu allegedly prefers an engineer for the top post. Mchunu reversed the irregular appointment of Petrus Matji as well as disbanding the Amatola Water Board in March.

It is alleged that Mchunu then appointed an interim board led by Pam Yako. The interim board then appointed Linda Makuleni to serve as interim CEO. And Makuleni’s contract ended this month, leaving the position vacant.

However, according to reports by the City Press, the SA Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) has criticised the lack of a permanent CEO. The temporary board is allegedly continuing to rake in money for holding endless meetings.

In an article published by the newspaper, Samwu regional secretary Luthando Juju expressed displeasure that Amatola Water had gone 29 months without a permanent CEO.

He said the board had given Makuleni instructions to broaden the job’s scope and select a service provider to reopen the application process last month. He claimed that they had watched fruitless board meetings for eight months.

He said, “We are left with one conclusion – that something sinister lurks in the dark. Their decision to terminate the contract of the interim CEO – whom they appointed against our plea not to – has proved to be wasteful and fruitless expenditure because money was paid in preparation for the recruitment of the CEO, from advertising to the travelling and seating claims of the recruitment panel. This, to us, was a gross misuse of the public purse.”

Amatola Water spokesperson Nosisa Sogayise said the board was satisfied that there were no governance issues of concern.