KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi intends on placing the eThekwini Municipality under administration through Section 139 of the constitution.
In what can be seen as a continuation of the frosty relations between him and the eThekwini leadership, Buthelezi told the national Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs committee members in Pietermaritzburg this week of his unhappiness with the governance and administration in KZN’s economic hub.
He singled out some of the decisions taken in eThekwini, including the suspension of senior officials without following proper procedures as an indication of the municipality’s brazen attitude, especially when it comes to accountability.
A day earlier in Buthelezi’s absence, eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba told the committee that they welcomed the assistance they had received from the provincial and national government, and was optimistic about the future of the municipality.
Xaba said that the municipality was attending to water related issues affecting various parts of the city.
Buthelezi did not attend the meeting between eThekwini and the committee due to a media briefing marking his 100 days in office of the new government happening on the same day.
But when he got his chance on Wednesday he said:
“I still hold the view that Section 139 is required in eThekwini. There are people that have been without water for weeks in Inanda. The constitution says all shall have access to decent housing, all shall have access to water. You go to Inanda they will tell you they have had no water for three weeks.”
Buthelezi said Section 154, which the municipality was under, only provided for recommendations and advice which the municipality could either take or discard.
He also cited an instance when he and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister sought to meet with the leadership of eThekwini but was snubbed by City Manager Musa Mbhele. Buthelezi said this underlined the attitude from the city’s top brass towards Cogta at provincial and national levels.
“I will continue to hold the view and will not be intimidated,” said Buthelezi.
He reiterated the stance of compromised service delivery in eThekwini during a University of KwaZulu-Natal sponsored debate on Thursday.
Buthelezi said matters that had taken a long time to get addressed by the previous administration were being attended to swiftly since the allocation of key portfolios to ministers from different parties, and not the just the ANC.
In response to Buthelezi’s comments, ANC eThekwini Region spokesperson Mlondi Mkhize said that they were monitoring the situation, and convinced that all possible efforts were made to ensure that the city functions properly.
He warned against any form of a takeover, noting that this had elements of politicking about it.
“We are less than two years away from the local government elections and we would hope that such stated intentions are not linked to that because at the end of the day the MEC is a politician,” said Mkhize.
The Cogta committee had been on a fact-finding mission on the challenges facing KZN municipalities and the form of assistance that was offered to enable them to deliver services.
Committee chairperson and former KZN Premier Dr. Zweli Mkhize said that they sought to get a thorough understanding on the problems especially in eThekwini and Msunduzi Municipality.