Nathi Tshiwanammbi, the municipal manager (MM) of Musina Municipality, was suspended on Monday, 18 August, following a council meeting.
The municipality's spokesperson, Wilson Dzebu, confirmed that Tshiwanammbi had been suspended with full pay, pending an investigation into alleged financial misconduct. He said an acting municipal manager would be appointed to take over the duties in the interim.
Dzebu added that an investigator would be appointed to probe the allegations of financial misconduct against the MM and report back to the council within 30 days of appointment.
One of the issues raised previously is that Musina has some of the highest-paid municipal officials, with remuneration packages well above what regulations stipulate. More than a year ago, the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Basikopo Makamu, instructed the municipality to address the matter.
It is, however, unlikely that the excessively high salaries paid to officials and councillors led to Tshiwanammbi's suspension.
The council's decision drew mixed reactions from political parties active in Musina and from community structures under the municipality.
"As the Democratic Alliance (DA), we believe the MM must be held accountable. The reports tabled before the Municipal Public Accounts Committee indicate irregular expenditure and maladministration. We will continue to support and call for investigations, as well as hold him accountable. Thus, we support the suspension and allow for a disciplinary process to follow," said Jacques Smalle, the DA's political head in the province and the party's spokesperson on the Treasury in the Limpopo Legislature.
The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) of Azania's representative in Vhembe, Gabriel Nenguda, said the party welcomed the municipality's decision. "However, the PAC wishes to know how the municipality arrived at the decision. What are the allegations? Why is he being suspended now, when there was an outcry some time ago from the Musina community demanding the MM's suspension, yet this was not taken seriously? There are factions within the ANC, and we believe they are fighting for something that is not in the interest of the community," said Nenguda.