Mayor queries Haswell’s sick leave

The Witness: "Mayor queries Haswell’s sick leave
26 Mar 2009"
Msunduzi municipal manager Rob Haswell came under fire once again in an executive committee (Exco) meeting yesterday.

He has been criticised in recent weeks over a number of issues, including his handling of overtime, the rates valuation process and the awarding of a tender of more than R200 million to automate water and electricity readings.

At yesterday’s Exco meeting during a discussion on procurement matters, councillor Themba Zungu called on the procurement unit to buy flowers and a sympathy card for the municipal manager, who has been away from work on sick leave for some time.

However, the mayor pointed out that Haswell cannot be sick because he has been seen jogging near his home every morning.

She suggested The Witness should verify this by sending a photographer to the area one morning.

Attempts to reach Haswell for comment late yesterday were unsuccessful.

Procurement manager Francis Grantham was also cautioned over shortcomings in the running of the supply chain contracts.

Deputy Mayor Mervyn Dirks felt that not enough contracts are going to African people.

Zungu said that the people getting the contracts are those who had benefited in the past. “Those eating are still the same old people who were eating before,” he said.

Hlatshwayo said the shortcomings in the procurement policy and the fact that it does not make provision for co-operatives will be addressed during a policy update and restructuring that is due to take place shortly.