The Makhado municipal council has opted to appoint Mr Elias Mugari as acting municipal manager in the place of Mr Shadrack Tshikalange. Mr Tshikalange's contract expired last month and the council seemingly opted not to renew it.

The council stated this week that Mugari was the most experienced official and they believed he was the person who could temporarily drive the municipality to the next level. Mugari is the director of community services at the municipality. The spokesperson for the Makhado Municipality, Mr Louis Bobodi, confirmed Mugari's appointment.

"Mugari will be acting in the position until such time as the new municipal manager is appointed," said Bobodi. He also said that the position had already been advertised.

The decision to appoint Mugari as the acting municipal manager was welcomed by members of both the Sinthumule-Kutama and Makhado Pastors Forum, who officially welcomed him last Friday.

Speaking at this event, the chairperson for the Makhado Pastors Forum, Mr Peter Thovhakale, said that the forums had confidence in Mugari. "We will continue praying for you, so that you can continue rendering services to God's people," he said.

The forums also used the opportunity to bid farewell to Mr Tshikalange, who had served for a period of two years.