EThekwini Municipality has dismissed its head of Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit, Thembinkosi Ngcobo.
It is alleged that his sacking comes after a payment of R140 000 that was allegedly made to a service provider who had not done any work for the municipality for an event in 2015. EThekwini Municipality spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela said the city can confirm that Ngcobo has been dismissed, according to the verdict from the Bargaining Council. “This after the employee expressed not to be comfortable with the internal disciplinary hearing that took place within the municipality. He then took the matter before the Bargaining Council, who then took this decision. The city is currently studying the verdict,” said Mayisela.
The Democratic Alliance’s community services whip, Councillor Mmabatho Tembe said the party celebrates the long overdue firing of Ngcobo. “He was allowed, with political impunity by the ANC, to destroy the PRC Unit to the point that service delivery in the metro had all but halted. Finally the city concedes to what the DA has been raising over a number of years, born out by him being found guilty of misconduct within the unit. He is also alleged to have turned a blind eye to corruption from one of his staff members in paying for a service provider that did not in fact provide any services.
“For years, Ngcobo was known to be the ‘man of events’ in the city, blowing millions of rands on glitzy parties that contributed nothing to the residents of eThekwini. He was more interested in partying it up with the elite than providing services to the poor. In short, we say “good riddance” to a man who has been at the forefront of “city capture” in eThekwini. What eThekwini and residents now urgently need is a turnaround for this department. Trees need to be pruned, grass needs to be cut and the swimming pools need to be fixed.” Cllr Tembe added that the DA calls on Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda to present an urgent action plan on how they can achieve these goals in the shortest possible time. “We hope that the ANC will learn its lesson that cadre deployment does not translate into quality service delivery. “We are certainly willing to work with the political leadership in the city to achieve this in the interest of all citizens,” she said.
