The City has appointed Fabian Ah-Sing as new corporate services portfolio committee chair, a move the opposition views as a “duplication” and “cadre deployment” that will cost taxpayers at least R5m.
The incumbent Ward 55 councillor’s appointment was announced in an ordinary meeting on Wednesday December 15.
In the same meeting, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announced, among other changes, the unbundling of the water and waste directorate, a restructuring of s57 managers in the City manager’s office, the renaming of the transport directorate to “mobility” directorate, and the name-change of economic opportunities and asset management directorate to economic growth.
The portfolio committee will begin its work with monthly meetings from February 2022.
Welcoming the appointment in a statement on Thursday December 16, Mayoral committee member for corporate services Theresa Uys said Mr Ah-Sing’s oversight role is to hold her to account.
She said she “expects robust engagement at these vital (monthly) meetings”.
In the meeting, ANC councillor Delmaine Cottee accused the DA of duplicating functions.
“If you already have an economic growth portfolio committee, what is the purpose of the ease-of-doing-business (corporate services) portfolio committee other than to deploy a DA cadre to this grossly overpaid post at more than R1m per annum?
“It seems implausible that the economic growth committee would not reduce the red tape to improve the ease of doing business.”
He said merging economic growth and corporate services directorates “would save at least R10m” this term.
“These resources would be better spent on building houses, infrastructure and in addressing the homeless crisis in the city,” Mr Cottee said.
Mr Mr Ah-Sing, a Bo-Kaap resident who grew up in Malibu Village in Eerste River, said he felt honoured and grateful to be appointed.
“Having served on the committee for five years in the previous term, I’m confident I’ll continue to bring my work ethic to the leadership role and ensure we reach the goals and targets we set.”
He said he was committed in bringing services to the city’s residents and steer the metro into the future.
Mr Ah-Sing said his role entails oversight on the metro’s Integrated Development Plan, its budgets, policies, services, strategic objectives, priorities and by-laws.
With a BCom Honours Degree from Regent Business School, Mr Ah-Sing’s says his expertise are community work, strategic and operations management, training and best practice development.
