EDITOR – The DA in eThekwini learned with shock at news reports that eThekwini Mayor, James Nxumalo, has decided not to associate himself with any municipal work as he is about to exit the mayoral position.
Nxumalo’s spokesperson told the media that the 2016 international Aids Conference that ended last week was the Mayor’s last public event under the municipality.
The DA finds this statement worrying. According to Local Government: Systems act section 59.(1), a municipal council must develop a system of delegation that will maximise administrative and operational efficiency and provide for adequate checks and balances.
EThekwini rule of order 28 states that the seating Mayor and the City Manager are responsible for decision making regarding the running of the city, during recess. With the mayor excluding himself from the operations of the municipality, eThekwini is now leaderless while Nxumalo is still getting a full Mayor’s salary.
Mayor Nxumalo must account to the people of eThekwini. The city is facing a bus crisis, contractors are not paid whilst Nxumalo is ignoring his constitutional duty to serve the community of eThekwini.
We call on KZN Cogta MEC, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, to intervene and ensure the Mayor is on duty until his very last day in office.
Zwakele Mncwango
DA KZN Leader
