Ex-lover links Msibi to her dismissal

Chief financial officer and MEC were a couple

- By Tshwarelo eseng Mogakane

Axed chief financial officer of the City of Mbombela Local Municipality, Delight Sibanyoni, has cited her acrimonious break-up of her romantic relationship with former Mpumalanga MEC and suspended ANC provincial treasurer Mandla Msibi as one of the reasons for her dismissal from her cushy job.

In court papers filed before the Mbombela High Court this week, Sibanyoni further says her failure to award tenders to companies linked to Msibi was another reason she was ousted.

Sibanyoni's startling revelation has the potential to further push Msibi's political career deep into a quagmire.

Sibanyoni, who was pink-slipped last month by the municipal council over a two-year-old dispute regarding her qualifications, had approached the court to urgently review and overturn the decision.

Her application cited five respondents: the speaker, the mayor, the municipal manager, the council and the Mpumalanga MEC for cooperative governance, human settlements and traditional affairs.

However, the court dismissed the urgency of her application this week and directed the matter to be placed on the normal court roll.