News24 reports that eThekwini Metro Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda has denied allegations that the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal predetermined the candidates for the vacant Durban city manager position.

The ANC and Kaunda stand accused of fixing the appointment after the ANC's deployment committee allegedly met last week and "decided" on three favoured candidates. "It is alleged that (KwaZulu-Natal) Premier Sihle Zikalala played a key role in this meeting and that the favoured candidate, who is currently a municipal manager on the South Coast, is his selection," said Democratic Alliance (DA) eThekwini caucus leader Nicole Graham. According to Graham, the ANC and its coalition partners "fought off all attempts to further open the process of appointing a new municipal manager". Kaunda on Wednesday said the process of appointing a new city manager was "well on track and it is being handled with the sensitivity and care it requires". He confirmed that he had received correspondence from Graham "who is alleging that there was political interference in the process leading up to the appointment of the city manager", but he denied the allegations, saying that the "ANC has no role in the appointment of city managers". Kaunda reported that the process to appoint a city manager was still under way. “After all the processes have unfolded, a report will be presented to the executive committee for its consideration, and the council," Kaunda indicated.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Kaveel Singh at News24

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