Bay metro faces new legal battles

NELSON Mandela Bay's new chief operating officer (COO), Mzwake Clay, starts his first day on the job today amid majorcontroversy over the position, as two former senior managers – who both believe they should have been hired – prepare for lengthy legal battles against the municipality. Former Bay COO Dr Israel Tsatsire is fighting the city for chasing him out in April last year even though the then acting city manager, Themba Hani, had renewed his expired contract for another five years. Dr Mamisa Chabula-Nxiweni, 67, who has been holding the fort as acting COO for the past eight months, believes Clay's appointment was predetermined and she was overlooked for the lucrative job because she is a woman and due to her age. - Rochelle de Kock