A number of Nelson Mandela Bay councillors flunked two courses funded by the municipality as they either failed to pitch for class or pass their assignments.
For the “Leadership Skills for the 21st Century” course, 40 of the 53 councillors who enrolled passed.
And only 20 out of the 37 councillors enrolled for the “Project Management” course were able to pass.
The leadership skills course showed councillors how to distinguish between different leadership styles and develop insight into a range of leadership theories.
It took 40 hours over 13 evenings.
The project management course equipped councillors with the skills to conduct feasibility studies and measure progress.
It took 24 hours over eight evenings.
The councillors who passed attended a small graduation ceremony yesterday at the Nelson Mandela University Business School.
Council support services director Nomakhaya Ndwayana said 80% of the pass rate was based on attendance, with 20% reliant on assignments submitted. Some councillors did both courses.
Speaking at Nelson Mandela University yesterday, council speaker Jonathan Lawack refused to reveal the cost of each course as the municipality had a partnership with the institution.
“I’m not at liberty to divulge that information. It is a contract between the municipality and the university.”
Asked if the councillors who had failed the courses would refund the municipality, Lawack said only those who had absconded would be liable for costs incurred.
“Councillors who have failed are allowed to repeat, but those who absconded, they will be held personally responsible. We will recoup the money from them,” he said.
Lawack said he would meet with the councillors who had failed to attend 80% of the courses.
“Through their negligence, we have incurred costs and we must recoup the financial outlay.”
Councillors from the ANC, DA, EFF, AIC and ACDP all put on their best clothing to receive their certificates in front of mayor Athol Trollip.
While Lawack refused to divulge the costs, municipal spokesman Mthubanzi Mniki said the leadership course cost R6 705 per councillor while the project management course cost R4 340 per councillor.
“The persons who have failed will be given an opportunity to redo the courses at their own expense. Only those who were not successful because of their own negligence will be required to repay the money spent on the course by the municipality,” Mniki said.
ANC councillor Kolekile Boqwana received distinctions in both courses.
“When we’re taught [about] leadership styles, one that prevailed was servant leadership. This struck a chord with me because whenever we do our work, we must become servants to our communities,” Boqwana said.
DA councillor Rene Meyer, who did the leadership skills course, said she had learnt how the minds of different councillors worked.