News24 reports that the long, drawn-out process to appoint a permanent city manager in the eThekwini Metro is almost at the finish line. "We would like to confirm that the process to appoint the city manager is nearing completion.

This follows the conclusion of interviews more than a week ago and the scheduling of competency assessments for the candidates for this week," Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said on Tuesday. The city manager post has been vacant following the arrest of Sipho Nzuza, who is one of the accused in the Durban Solid Waste R320 million tender saga involving embattled former mayor Zandile Gumede. The full council voted, with an ANC majority, to terminate Nzuza's employment and pay him the remainder of his contract. Kaunda indicated: “We want to reiterate that the filling of the city manager position is urgent and as the leadership of the City, we have prioritised it.” He commended the selection panel that was approved by council "for moving with speed to finalise the process". A previous panel came under fire from opposition parties who pointed out it contained ANC-affiliated politicians, including Kaunda. In April, the City announced that the recommendations of that panel would not be approved. Kaunda conceded that the Auditor-General was concerned by the lack of a permanent city manager. He said the City had received 158 applications and, of those, 17 candidates had been shortlisted for the pivotal post. A report would be presented to the City’s exco and to the council next week, Kaunda indicated.

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

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