President Ramaphosa signs bill barring municipal workers from holding political office

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the local government Municipal Systems Amendment Bill into law, barring municipal workers and senior managers from holding political office.

The laws come amid a wider effort to professionalize the public service and clamp down on questionable appointments in local government.

Among its far-reaching interventions the new legislation prevents municipal and senior managers, from holding political office, whether they have been appointed in a permanent, temporary or acting capacity.

Municipalities are also now required to maintain a record of disciplinary proceedings against staff members dismissed for misconduct which will be handed over to the Minister of Cooperative Governance Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to monitor.

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the new legislation will improve the performance of local government, preventing the abuse of public resources and stamping out errant officials who move from municipality to municipality even after being found guilty of wrongdoing.

“A capable ethical state requires a strong foundation at local level and the new law will go a long way to building communities’ confidence in local government and enabling stronger partnerships and cooperation between municipalities and the communities they serve”.

Magwenya said the law now directs that any staff member of any municipality who has been dismissed for misconduct may only be re-employed in a municipality after a period of five years.

-EWN

In other news – Sithelo Sithelo shows off her new set of teeth – South Africans react

Durban DJ Sithelo Shozi is taking care of herself and is not sparing any expense. It is without a doubt that the perks of being monied include having access to high-end dental care, and Sithelo spent her money where it matters.

The DJ has upgraded and purchased herself a new set of teeth in Turkey. Tweeps discovered this after she took to her Instagram account to flash her new set of teeth. Learn More