As the months tick by, pivotal posts of directors of the Makhado Municipality have not been filled yet. A light at the end of the tunnel is the news that the interviews will take place on November 28.

The prompt filling of the positions, especially that of director: technical services, is of the essence for the ratepayers who expect and demand proper services and value for their money. The water and sewage problems of the town have caught the attention of the media for an extended time. The Soutpansberg Rate Payers Association highlighted the town’s problems with water and sanitation when Mr Carel Breytenbach spoke on national radio on October 15.

The position of director: technical services was held by Mr Masindi Mapholi until the end of August this year. The same date of expiry applied to the contract of the former director of community services, Mr Peter Magwala. The contracts of Mr Vic Viljoen, director: corporate services, and Mr Dan Masengana, director: special projects, expire at the end of November.

These four positions were referred to in a media statement by Mr Louis Bobodi, assistant manager: community liaison and communication.

"The short-listing panel which is comprised of the relevant sector departments, viz. the provincial treasury, local government and housing, SALGA and the office of the Premier, will shortlist the relevant candidates on November 21 and the interviews for the positions ... will take place on November 28," Bobodi stated.

Bobodi could not say when the actual appointments would be made.

Why the advertising and recruitment processes did not start way in advance was not made clear. The municipality had known for the past five years that these were contractual positions and would expire in five years´ time.

"A basic succession plan is a principle of good corporate governance," was timeous advice given by the chairperson of the Chairpersons Association, Mr André Naudé. He raised the concern that services would be affected by a changeover of directors, in a meeting between the CA and directors in the first term of the year.

The duties of the directors as in the Municipal Systems Amendment Bill make mention of good corporate governance. They must "provide effective, transparent, accountable and coherent corporate governance and conduct effective oversight of the affairs of the municipal entity." Concerning the appointment of directors, the bill says that the director must have the requisite range of expertise to manage and guide the activities of the municipal entity effectively.

In practice, "a new person in a post may struggle for a long time before becoming operational in the post," said Municipal Manager Ms Faith Muthambi in February this year. The contract of Ms Muthambi expires in February next year.