DA calls for Mtuba Municipality to be dissolved

IN a statement released on Wednesday, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal called for the ‘renegade’ Mtubatuba Municipality to be dissolved with immediate effect.

The DA’s George Mari MPL, and Spokesperson on COGTA, alleged that Municipal Administrator Bamba Ndwandwe had been escorted out of the municipality by local police officers.

This topped Mari’s list of reasons for his proposed dissolution of the municipality.

‘Despite the intervention of a department-appointed administrator, this municipality remains wracked by poor leadership and political instability, resulting in a weakening of oversight, governance and compliance,’ said Mari.

The recent overthrow of Robert Ntuli as mayor highlights the ongoing political wrangling at Mtubatuba which, as confirmed by Ndwandwe, appears to be preventing any progress at the municipality.

The Zululand Observer contacted Ndwandwe for confirmation of his alleged police escort from the municipality, to which he replied, ‘No, that did not happen and I am still administrator of Mtubatuba Municipality until my contract comes to an end at the end of March’.

Ndwandwe has, on many occasions, acknowledged the political volatility at Mtubatuba but says some progress has been made.

This progress comes in the form of Municipal Manager Siyabonga Ntuli’s suspension and upcoming hearing.

Fifty-two charges, mostly for financial mismanagement, have been brought against Ntuli, who was formally charged last month.

‘While municipal officials are playing politics, the community is suffering,’ said Mari.

‘Records show that 95% of the population still needs houses, water and sanitation and electricity.

‘Housing backlogs are off the chart while raw sewerage runs into some houses’.

Mari concluded by saying the on-going internal strife between the ANC, IFP and NFP must be stopped and the municipality must be dissolved in the interests of the communities.