Calibre of new metro chief vital

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WE READ with interest the fact that you have now resorted to contracting a human resources company to recruit a municipal manager.

I'm sure that everybody in the Metro sees this as a positive move, to get somebody, with the qualifications, to occupy that position on a permanent basis and, hopefully, for a long period of time. This would certainly be a start to getting this Metro into the state that all its residents wish it to be.

However, be cautioned – human resources, employment agencies, head hunters etc, will generally interview people with qualifications and skills, as specified by you as the eventual employer.

Consider the fact that they do not know your business. It is obvious that people you recruited into this position in the recent past were not properly qualified for the position. It would therefore be believed that the proper qualifications and skills were not considered when they were appointed – whether in permanent or temporary positions. Your failure to appoint a suitably qualified person would suggest that the Metro does not have skilled human resources personnel to do recruitment at this high management level.

In light of this, it is therefore so much more important for you to clearly define the complexity of the position and the responsibility this position carries when laying down job specifications to an employment agency.

Considering the above, it would be in your interest to firstly consult with experts regarding the complexity and all aspects of the position and then only decide on the qualifications required – which has obviously never been done before. A suitable track record reflecting experience and achievements should most certainly be one of the major considerations.

Please look for a person suitably qualified in high level management and not a personality (who fits in "nicely").

The report also states that the Metro has already identified Pinpoint One as the service provider for this exercise, which already raises a question. The appointments this company has made for the municipalities listed in the report – were these successful, in particular the city of Ekurhuleni ? So much has been reported regarding the poor state of this region and there is obviously immediate concern whether they would in fact be the ultimate company to carry out this appointment. Have you established whether they (Pinpoint One) have a reliable track record regarding major appointments ?