FOR the second time in seven months, Mtubatuba Mayor, Robert Ntuli, has been ousted in a vote of no confidence.
Former Deputy Mayor, Sgoga Mkhwanazi, was installed as mayor on Monday.
Unlike last year’s fiasco when Ntuli’s ousting was deemed ‘undemocratic’ by provincial government, the current election, according to Ntuli, was legal.
However, provincial government may yet intervene as Mkhwanazi is NFP (National Freedom Party) and his election was assisted by the IFP (Inkhatha Freedom Party) despite the ANC-NFP Memorandum of Understanding in place until next year.
According to Ntuli, the ANC considers him Mayor and will continue to do so until the provincial government officially decides otherwise.
This latest development at Mtubatuba Municipality once again calls into question the municipality’s stability and ability to provide required services to the public.
‘You cannot plan for the long term at Mtubatuba because you don’t know when you will be voted out,’ said Ntuli.
The ousted mayor further questioned the NFP’s entitlement to a mayor in Mtubatuba when seven of the party’s councillors are without wards.
Ntuli is currently awaiting direction from the provincial government.
Mayor Mkhwanazi is allegedly one of the 33 non-rate paying Mtubatuba councillors living on trust land.
Late last year Mtubatuba Administrator, Bamba Ndwandwe, questioned the effectiveness of a municipality where the majority of its councillors are non-rate payers and therefore cannot sympathise with ratepayers who see no services for the rates they pay.
According to Ndwandwe, this is the reason Mtubatuba Municipality will never get out of the ‘red’.
Meanwhile, the disciplinary hearing of Mtubatuba Municipal Manager, Siyabonga Ntuli, is due to start later this month.
Unconfirmed reports state he has been formally charged with more than 50 offences. Mr Sithole, Mtubatuba’s Director of Community Services, is acting Municipal Manager.
