Millionaire council bosses

At least 10 municipal managers received millions of rands in golden handshakes after being fired.

GRAHAM RICHARDS

He was the first manager of the Nelson Mandela metropolitan municipality, appointed in 2002.

According to The Herald, The Times' sister newspaper in Port Elizabeth, Richards got a R3-million golden handshake in 2002. The municipality rehired him in 2006. In 2009 he was suspended for "irregular conduct and poor performance". Richards challenged this in court. He was eventually paid another R3-million. "My indication is that, in my case, the term 'golden handshake' is not appropriate. The amount that was paid to me was a settlement."

MZIMASI MANGCOTYWA

He succeeded Richards at Nelson Mandela Bay but was suspended on full pay in 2005 on allegations of misconduct and of bringing the council into disrepute. In June 2006 the council gave him a R2.2-million golden handshake.

He did not respond to requests for comment.

BRUCE KANNEMEYER

The DA fired him from the Stellenbosch municipality in 2006 when the council fell under its control. He reportedly received about R2-million.

"It's the penalty the DA had to pay after axing me. I had two years on my contract but they felt I wasn't aligned to their political approach," he said.

KIBA KEKANA

The Tshwane metro raised eyebrows last year when it gave Kekana a R2.3-million golden handshake. The metro suspended Kekana in October 2009 amid 11 allegations of mismanagement. "All charges were withdrawn. I never sat for a single hearing. They had to pay me the balance of my contract."

THABO MAFIHLA

Mafihla, a former manager of the Govan Mbeki municipality, in Secunda, Mpumalanga, was suspended and then fired for refusing to reinstate an employee he had suspended for alleged corruption. He spent two years on suspension, drawing his salary. Mafihla took the municipality to court and won after a protracted legal battle. He said legal fees and his golden handshake had cost the municipality between R4-million and R5-million.

GEORGE MTHIMUNYE

The former manager of Dr JS Moroka municipality, in Siyabuswa, Mpumalanga, was suspended and then resigned after being charged with sexual harassment, and unauthorised or fruitless expenditure. He settled out of court with the municipality and reportedly received a R5-million golden handshake.

Mthimunye did not respond to requests for comment.

TSHEPISO RAMPHELE

The former manager of Ngaka Modiri Molema municipality, in Mahikeng, was suspended and later fired by the municipality. Ramphele said he was suspended for questioning council deals, including R16-million spent on sending 18 school boys on a soccer trip to Brazil. The story was covered by The Times last year. The courts have finally ruled in his favour. He said he is trying to enforce a ruling that he should receive a payout of up to R5-million, including legal fees.

JOHNNY DOUGLAS

The DA bought him out of his contract as manager of Knysna municipality when it took control of the council after local government elections in May. Sources say he was paid more than R3-million. He failed to comment though he had promised to do so.

GEORGE NGESI

The former manager of the Ndlambe municipality, in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, was suspended by the ANC in 2009 in connection with the disappearance of 39 rented laptop computers. Ngesi had not commented by the time of going to press, despite promising that he would. Ngesi accepted a R2-million golden handshake.

MORNE HOOGBAARD was last month suspended by the DA as manager of the Eden district municipality, in George. "I was suspended on 18 trumped-up charges. I'm looking forward to getting a payout like other managers," he said.