SOUTH AFRICA
The South African Government has named a controversial former mayor to head the country’s independent Public Service Commission (PSC).
Zanele Hlatshwayo (pictured) who headed the municipality of Msunduzi, which includes Pietermaritzburg, from 2007-to-2010, is alleged to have spent extravagantly on mayoral pet projects and wasted money by attending former United States President Barack Obama’s inauguration.
She has denied the allegations.
In March 2010, the KwaZulu-Natal Executive Committee put Msunduzi under administration because of its poor financial status, non-compliance with various statutory obligations relating to financial, institutional and governance matters, and a lack of oversight by the council of the municipality.
Ms Hlatshwayo and her executive were removed, but shortly afterwards she was appointed to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health.
The Opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) is threatening to ask the courts to set aside the recommendation, saying Ms Hlatshwayo is totally unsuitable for the position of PSC Commissioner.
Spokesperson on Public Service and Administration for the DA, Leon Schreiber said the ruling African National Congress (ANC) was determined to use Ms Hlatshwayo to “capture the PSC”.
“The Constitution stipulates the PSC must be independent and must be impartial, and must exercise its powers and perform its functions without fear, favour or prejudice, and that a Commissioner must be a fit and proper person,” Mr Schreiber said.
“If the ANC does not withdraw the recommendation to appoint Hlatshwayo, the DA will not hesitate to approach the courts to set aside this patently irrational appointment.”
Pretoria, 24 November, 2019
