The Nelson Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) has placed Anele Qaba, its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), on precautionary suspension with immediate effect.
Luvuyo Bangazi, spokesperson of the MBDA, would not divulge the reasons for the Board’s action, but only said this is not a pronouncement of guilt against Qaba.
“It is for the purpose of ensuring that proper due processes to investigate the allegations continue without any hindrance or potential interference” he said.
Bangazi also said the board has been resolute in ensuring that good governance and accountability is adhered to, at all times.
Qaba released his own statement, on Thursday, saying the Agency reached a target of R21 million, beating the target set by the Municipality by R6 million, in the year ending on the 30th June 2025.
He also said the turnaround of a negative audit outcome was most challenging.
“The Municipal Finance Management Act Section 166 (5) is clear, it requires that the members of an audit committee must be appointed by the council of the municipality or, in the case of a municipal entity, by the council of the parent municipality, and in our case this appointment was made late in the year on 18 June 2025 with just 12 days left of the financial year.
The second intervention to ensure a turnaround in Audit improvement is about pursuing a robust Audit Action Plan to address the findings efficiently. The third element is about ensuring there is a culture of consequence management as a deterrent.
Instituting investigations to uncover control failures and culpability is one of the most difficult of the audit improvement actions. Not only does one investigate colleagues, but the prospect of severe consequences for fellow staff members is typically why there is generally inaction in the public sector” said Qaba.
He also said performance at the Agency went from 28%, in the 2019/2020 financial year, to a current 52%.
Picture: Supplied