Cape Town city manager misses deadline

Cape Town city manager Wallace Mgoqi has missed the deadline set by executive mayor Helen Zille for his reply explaining why his contract should be regarded as valid. Mayoral spokesman Robert McDonald confirmed to the Cape Times that the council had not received a response from Mgoqi. In a letter delivered to Mgoqi on Friday, Zille gave the city manager until yesterday to give reasons why his contract, extended for a year by former executive mayor Nomaindia Mfeketo in February, should not be considered null and void. Mfeketo changed her delegation powers in February so she could extend Mgoqi's contract while council was in recess. Mgoqi was at a meeting late yesterday and was not available for comment.
As there had not been a response from Mgoqi, a senior council official said the multiparty local government would have to meet to discuss its next move. Possible scenarios include extending the deadline to give the city manager more time to respond or taking immediate court action against him. If Mgoqi's contract is deemed legally invalid, the council will be under no obligation to provide a so-called golden handshake or settlement package.