DA demands Mayor reverse decision to suspend City Manager

The DA has called on eThekwini Mayor Zandile Gumede, to urgently reverse her decision to suspend and give “compulsory leave” to City Manager Sbu Sithole.
In a letter to the mayor, the opposition party claims she oes not have the power, in law, to suspend or place on compulsory leave, any official unilaterally; let alone the City Manager. The mayor may only request Council to do so, and in this case no such request to Council had been made.

Zwakele Mncwango the DA’s KZN leader said the party had written to Gumede demanding she reverse her decision by 4pm tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon and threatened legal action if the flawed process was not reversed.

According to a media release today, the DA’s letter comes after EXCO Chief Whip informed the DA Chief Whip Sharon Chetty of the decision by Gumede to suspend the City Manager.

“We believe that the mayor has chosen to ignore procedures stipulated in Section 5 of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act 32 of 2000 and is attempting a dictatorial method to wield her axe on the official. We will not allow such dictatorial acts. It is alarming that the mayor can take such decisions during recess in a clear attempt to subvert Council,” he said.

Mncwango said the question being asked was what was the mayor planning to do, without the oversight of the city manager, while he was unlawfully suspended.
“Ordinary procedure would force her to consult the city manager for making any decision she may take during the recess period, but with him gone, she has free reign to do as she pleases with the finances of the City,” he said.