Mr Zwannda Norman Kutama, the former senior manager of marketing and communication at the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) in Limpopo, has been appointed as the new municipal manager of the Vhembe District Municipality (VDM), effective from 3 July.
The decision to appoint Kutama was made during a council meeting on 20 June. He replaces Sylvia Ndou, whose contract expired in December last year. In the interim, Mr Cedrick Tshikovha, the manager of corporate services, had been acting as the municipal manager.
When asked about Kutama's academic qualifications and experience in local government, the spokesperson for VDM, Mr Moses Shivambu, declined to provide information and stated that a press conference would be held on 3 July, where media representatives could ask questions.
The chairperson of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in Vhembe, Adv Tshifhiwa Matodzi, expressed opposition to the appointment, citing concerns about Kutama's lack of relevant experience to lead a municipality facing significant challenges effectively.