MEC criticizes suspension of Matatiele Municipal manager as unlawful

He demands that council rescind the resolution

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Eastern Cape MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Zolile Williams, has condemned the suspension of Matatiele Local Municipality manager Lizo Matiwane as both unlawful and procedurally incorrect. The decision to suspend Matiwane was made during a special council meeting on October 28, following a vote by a faction of ANC councillors who cited a breakdown of trust between him and the council.

This suspension comes on the heels of Matiwane’s legal actions against two councillors, Vumile Kondile and Makopano Shale, who raised an urgent matter during a council meeting on October 18. This matter gave Matiwane just seven days to explain why he should not be suspended.

In a letter dated November 1 to Mayor Cllr Sonwabile Mngenela, MEC Williams expressed his shock and concern over the council’s actions. He stated, “I received your correspondence with shock and apprehension, that at this time in the local term, a municipality can act so unlawfully and potentially invite unnecessary litigations because of arbitrary council resolutions.”

Williams emphasized that the special council meeting convened on October 28 was meant to finalize agenda items from a previous meeting and that the agenda for the October 28 meeting did not include any item regarding Matiwane’s suspension. He concluded that the Speaker lacks the authority to consider this matter under the council’s rules.

Moreover, he pointed out that the resolution to suspend Matiwane contravenes the Local Government Disciplinary Regulations for Senior Managers of 2010, which require that a senior manager be given an opportunity to make a written representation before any suspension.

In light of these points, MEC Williams has urged the council to convene an urgent special meeting to rescind the suspension and has requested a comprehensive report on the council’s actions regarding this matter, to be submitted within four days. However, Speaker Nonzwakazi Ngwanya has stated that he has not yet received Williams’ letter.

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