Durban - The Msunduzi ratepayers organisation is calling for transparency in the process to appoint a new municipal manager for the city.
The position has been vacant for months following the departure of former municipal manager Madoda Khathide.
It was not immediately clear on Monday what progress has been made to fill the vacant post.
In a public letter, the Msunduzi Association of Residents Ratepayers and Civics (MARRC) urged the new MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Sihle Zikalala, to make the process more transparent.
“On behalf of MARRC we congratulate you on your appointment as the MEC of Cogta and wish you all the best in your position.
“It is going on for five months since the former municipal manager resigned and to date there has not been an appointment of the municipal manager.
“We have noticed that the appointment of the eThekwini municipal manager was announced last week, and their process was open and transparent, where all parties on council were part of the selection process. Their process was also open to the public too.
“It is with concern that the selection process at the Msunduzi Municipality is shrouded in secrecy and why wasn’t the process open and transparent like the eThekwini process?
“The eThekwini council’s process was very successful and resulted in the public’s confidence in the process,” it said.
It said the appointment of the municipal manager is an important process that has the public interest at heart, and “we deem it necessary that the public is made aware of all the processes in appointing the municipal manager.
“We hope that you would take us in your confidence and to support our request for an accountable, open and transparent process.
“We request for your intervention to have the appointment of the Msunduzi municipal manager expedited as a matter of urgency as five months is too long to make an appointment in this all-important position,” it said.