The DA will write to Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Minister, Pravin Gordhan, to request that he explains the circumstances surrounding the departure of the Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) CEO, Ms Gabusile Gumbi-Masilela. She was suspended for 9 months before her departure, forcing the MDB to pay her a golden handshake to get rid of her.
 

 
We want to know how much she received, why she was suspended in the first place and why this is all being kept secret.
 

 
Reports today suggest that she was paid an enormous amount. We estimate that she could take home over R3 million as she will be paid the rest of this year’s salary, most of which she was suspended for, in addition to her full salary for next year. The MDB has essentially paid for a two-year free ride for Ms Gumbi-Masilela. 
 

 
This waste of money must be explained to Parliament. The DA will submit parliamentary questions to determine:
 
 

• the exact reasons why Mrs Gumbi-Masilela was suspended and eventually fired;
• what the full exit package amounts to, and why she was paid such an obviously-excessive amount of money;
• why this has been kept secret until now;
• why the MDB’s annual report does not provide clarification on this matter; and
• what steps have been taken to permanently appoint a new CEO.

The Municipal Demarcation Board needs to be in good shape before the 2016 local government elections, when it will be required to finalise all ward boundaries in municipalities and metros.
 

 
It is an independent institution which is accountable to Parliament. Minister Gordhan must therefore take every action to ensure that Ms Gumbi-Masilela’s departure is explained to the COGTA portfolio committee.

 

Issued by DA