Cogta MEC, northern KZN municipality at odds over intervention

KWAZULU-NATAL Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi was forced to address councillors outside the locked gates of the Umkhanyakude District Municipality in Mkhuze, in the far north of the province, yesterday after senior municipal officials allegedly attempted to block his visit.

- SIPHESIHLE BUTHELEZI and THAMI MAGUBANE

The MEC described the incident as a blatant act of obstruction by officials, including the Speaker and Municipal Manager of the Umkhanyakude District, who “barricaded the entrance to the municipality” to stop him from fulfilling his constitutional responsibilities.

With the doors to the municipal offices locked, the MEC held his meeting at the entrance of the building, where he informed councillors that the Provincial Executive Council had resolved to place the municipality under administration in terms of Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution.

"This section empowers the provincial government to appoint an administrator when a municipality fails to fulfil its duties of providing services to communities,” Buthelezi explained.

In a statement yesterday afternoon, Umkhanyakude Municipality said it was strongly opposed to the intervention by the Cogta MEC and said it was irregular.

Buthelezi announced the appointment of Bamba Ndwandwe as the new administrator.

“Mr. Ndwandwe is a seasoned local government veteran with extensive experience working with various municipalities across the province,” the MEC said. Ndwandwe officially took office on July 1.