IN the wake of uMkhanyakude District Municipality being placed under provincial administration, KZN’s Democratic Alliance (DA) has called on COGTA (Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs) to launch its long-awaited skills audit across the province.
‘The situation at uMkhanyakude is certainly not unique,’ said George Mari KZN DA spokesperson on COGTA.
‘Recent oversight visits conducted by DA MPLs to KZN municipalities have revealed a trail of incompetence within municipal structures. It is one of the biggest challenges.
‘The issues within uMkhanyakude Municipality speak directly to the dangers of cadre deployment.’
The DA expects COGTA MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube to announce a skills audit launch date and present investigation findings relating to uMkhanyakude officials’ conduct to the province’s COGTA portfolio committee at its next meeting.
Former Administrator at Mtubatuba Municipality, Bamba Ndwandwe, was appointed Administrator at uMkhanyakude following last Wednesday’s announcement of provincial intervention. Ndwandwe is tasked with creating a comprehensive recovery plan, improving financial services and restoring uMkhanyakude’s focus to basic service delivery.
‘The assessment of the programme in this municipality as at 30 June showed the municipality had to be re-categorised from ‘challenged’ to being a municipality requiring intervention,’ said Dube-Ncube.
‘In terms of service delivery, there is a deluge of frustration among local municipalities concerning the poor performance of the district municipality regarding the delivery of water and sanitation services, as well as neglect of existing infrastructure.’
Forensic investigations are being concluded by various agencies, including Provincial Treasury.
Dube-Ncube said should Council not co-operate with the intervention, full Council dissolution would be the next step.
