The qualified have no chance

The article "Unqualified council officials face the chop" (yesterday) refers.

It is time for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Pravin Gordhan to stop threatening and start acting.

The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces that is most affected by dodgy appointments.

Yesterday's article only identifies Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality's municipal manager as a candidate for removal. But, in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, the qualifications had to be lowered to accommodate the current city manager.

Moreover, the ANC routinely uses its majority to enforce the appointment of its preferred candidate.

I know all these things because I have been involved as a candidate in most of these appointments, the last being in the position of executive director: special projects at Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality.

Dr Lindiwe Msengana-Ndlela, who was fired as the city manager of Nelson Mandela Bay, was one of very few untainted senior officials in local government today, yet she could last only a few months as a city manager.

I have applied for senior positions in Port Elizabeth, East London, Mthatha and Grahamstown, and it is always the same: You are invited for an interview, then you never hear from them again.

Later you hear via the grapevine that an unqualified official was appointed in the position.

You cannot challenge these decisions because they all have political ramifications