The IFP-led KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) is headed for another political showdown with the ANC-led Umkhanyakude District Municipality following the latter’s rejection of Section 154.
It has emerged that the municipality never accepted the decision to be placed under Section 154, which requires the municipality to operate under the watchful eyes of a provincial government representative.
The municipality was placed under the category in September after it was removed from Section 139(b), which curtailed its administrative and financial powers and placed it under the appointed administrator Bamba Ndwandwe.
Ndwandwe was reappointed to provide technical assistance as required by Section 154 provisions; however, it has emerged that since his appointment, he has not been able to do his job effectively because of frustrations. It also emerged that the council took a resolution to suspend Ndwandwe’s services.
On Tuesday, he confirmed his frustration, which he attributed to the acting municipal manager, Siyabonga Ntuli.
“It’s true, the acting municipal manager is exploiting divisions within the council to frustrate me,” said Ndwandwe.
CoGTA MEC Reverend Thulasizwe has recently penned a strongly worded letter to the municipality, warning it that Ndwandwe is a government representative.
It was after Ndwandwe was barred from attending a council meeting in his capacity as the technical support for the municipality that the services were suspended. The MEC also complained that Ndwandwe had not yet been allocated an office since his appointment.
“It is further astonishing to hear that the council may have adopted a resolution providing that the services of Ndwandwe, as an expert from CoGTA, be temporarily suspended. It is placed on record that the Speaker, the acting municipal manager, or the council have no authority to suspend the services of an individual who is not employed by the council,” read the letter.
On Tuesday, CoGTA spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila reiterated that the municipality is still under Section 154 until the Cabinet decides otherwise, and Ndwandwe is a technical expert.
Ntuli did not respond to the questions sent to him on Tuesday.
Umkhanyakude has been a political battleground between the IFP and ANC after it was placed under administration. This prompted the ANC to protest, accusing the IFP-led government of backstabbing it since they were partners in the Government of Provincial Unity.
The situation was further exacerbated by the ANC’s removal from power through an IFP-sponsored motion of no confidence. The IFP’s backdown allowed the ANC to return to power after the latter “threatened” not to protect Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli from the uMkhonto weSizwe Party motion.
