The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) is demanding the resignation with immediate effect of the Chief Financial Officer from the Maphumulo local municipality whose qualifications have been declared fraudulent by the University of Zululand.
KZN Cogta has embarked on an intensive process to review senior appointments in municipalities with a view to professionalise local government and ensure that municipal positions are occupied by qualified and competent officials.
Among the cases the department recently evaluated is that of Mr Robert Ngubane, currently the CFO of Maphumulo Municipality in Northern KZN. Upon verifying his stated qualifications with the educational institutions concerned- Cogta discovered that Ngubane’s qualifications were fake. In fact he lied and misrepresented himself for this position.
“There is no room in our local government for individuals who misrepresent their formal qualifications for the jobs they have been hired to do. Let this forced resignation be a lesson to all other fraudsters in our municipalities,” said KZN MEC for Cogta Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
“Not only are we pushing for an immediate termination of this individual’s employment but we are also looking into the possibility of charging him criminally in connection with all transactions he authorised as Chief Financial Officer on behalf of the Maphumulo municipality. This will include all the money he has earned illegally,” said Dube-Ncube.
The KZN Cogta, which exercises general oversight over the province’s 61 municipalities, has given all Chief Financial Officers in KZN until next September to provide proof of formal qualifications. At the same time, the department is verifying all qualifications that have been submitted for review.
“We are dead serious about ensuring that only properly qualified and dedicated individuals are given positions in our municipalities. To this end, we will follow the letter and the spirit of the minimum competency requirements that apply to all senior municipal appointments in KZN,” said Dube-Ncube.
For more information:
Lennox Mabaso
Spokesperson
Cell: 082 884 2403
