{"id":45437,"date":"2023-12-07T06:06:12","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T04:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnuus\/experienced-hands-taking-the-citys-reins-20231206-2\/"},"modified":"2025-03-20T06:01:39","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T04:01:39","slug":"experienced-hands-taking-the-citys-reins-20231206-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/bloemnewsexpress\/experienced-hands-taking-the-citys-reins-20231206-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Experienced hands taking the city\u2019s reins"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>After more than a year in which the Mangaung Metro had only acting heads of departments (HODs), new officials took to office on Friday, 1 December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All vacancies except that of the chief financial officer (CFO), who declined the position, is now in office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Israel Kgamanyane is the new HOD of Public Safety. Previously, he was the chief of the metro police from January 2018 until December 2022, although the metro received an urgent request from the National Treasury in October 2021 to halt the establishing of a metro police force. Since January of this year, he worked as an executive forensic specialist at Peyper Forensics, having spent years working with the police and the Hawks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mokete Duma is the new HOD for Corporate Services. Duma is the former HOD of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and former acting HOD of the Department Sports, Arts and Culture in the Free State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The new HOD for Planning, Economic and Rural Development and Human Settlements is Nokuthula Chakane, previously of the Institute for Reconciliation and Social Justice. She has experience in governance in the metro and Free State Cogta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr Thabang Thinda is the new HOD for Community Services, a combination of departments. Thinda has a PhD in Disaster Risk Managment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Itumeleng Masobeng is the new HOD for Technical Services. He has attained a diploma and B. Tech degree in Civil Engineering, is a registered engineer, and currently undertaking his Masters studies in Engineering. He is the former general manager at Engineering Services<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After more than a year in which the Mangaung Metro had only acting heads of departments (HODs), new officials took to office on Friday, 1 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