Nearly a year after Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana stepped in to counter an ostensible attempt at capturing the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA), the status quo remains at the embattled municipal entity.

After Godongwana intervened last year, the NMB Council decided to review the MBDA Board’s appointment of Anele Qaba as CEO. The application was successful, and Qaba’s appointment was subsequently set aside.

Judge JW Eksteen said in the judgement:
“…he was subsequently appointed, unconditionally, contrary to the provisions of s 107 of the MFMA and the competency regulations and awarded a salary package, which he continues to receive, at the upper limit permissible for the post, for which he was not qualified. On consideration of all the factors, I consider that the only appropriate relief is to review and set aside the decision to appoint Mr Qaba”.

Qaba, however, thereafter appealed the decision and, to this day, remains in office. Instead of removing Qaba from office until the appeal has been finalised, the Nelson Mandela Bay Council has allowed him to continue leading the MBDA, seemingly blissfully ignorant that he is not qualified to hold the position.

The MBDA board, which was responsible for the appointment bungle, also remains in place, notwithstanding a Council resolution taken last year to commence with the dissolution of the board.

At the time, Godongwana had the following to say about the board:

“I emphasise the concern I have over the governance that the board of directors of Mandela Bay Development Entity has with implementing material irregular decisions that contravene statutory prescripts, as well as not obtaining approval of the municipal Council when required.

The fact that the Board of Directors failed to consult Council is a clear indication that they have failed to execute their fiduciary duties and therefore I advise your Council to consider taking appropriate steps against them, which may include possible dissolution subject to due process”.

The MBDA debacle once again highlights the rapid demise of Nelson Mandela Bay because of the political instability of the Council.

The MBDA was once an exceptional example of how a lean and agile municipal entity could add value to residents by executing specific mandates or projects. Sadly, today’s MBDA is a shadow of its former self and has become a bloated organization riddled with inefficiency and bureaucracy.

The DA has once again written to Godongwana and requested that he intervene in the affairs of the MBDA. The continued governance issues at the MBDA continue to expose both the MBDA and the NMB Council to adverse risks, and they must be rectified.

The DA is in your corner, fighting for you. Together, we can get NMB working again.

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