Administrator appointed in Pietermaritzburg’s Msunduzi municipality

KZN MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) Nomusa Dube-Ncube has announced the appointment of an administrator at Msunduzi municipality after it was placed under administration.

In a statement, Dube-Ncube described the newly appointed administrator as a senior local government expert who would lead the section 139 constitutional intervention in the Msunduzi Local Municipality.

“The newly appointed administrator at Msunduzi is Mr Sibusiso Sithole who previously held the post of city manager of eThekwini metro. He was the first city manager to achieve a clean audit for the province’s sole metro. Sithole’s grasp of local government agenda is unrivalled and KZN Cogta believes he is the right person for the tough job at Msunduzi. He recently headed the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa),” Dube-Ncube said.

The municipality was placed under administration recently, which was the second time in 10 years.

Pietermaritzburg’s Public Eye newspaper reported that the municipality was placed under administration for the worsening state of municipal affairs in the provincial capital including the collapse of service delivery, a looming financial crisis and allegations of internal sabotage.

“Our choice of top-notch administrator and the intervening team reflects our desire to ensure that our capital city is returned to its glory days and to optimum functionality in the shortest possible time. It is clear that we have placed a premium on first-class qualifications, skills and work experience in our decision. We want big, fast results with sustainable impact,” Dube-Ncube said.

Sithole was introduced before the Msunduzi Exco on Thursday morning.

Dube-Ncube said he would lead a team tasked with turning around KZN’s capital city.

He would work with a steering committee involving national and provincial departments including the SA Local Government Association and the team would report regularly to the MEC, who would report to the provincial executive, she said.

“By choosing the highest calibre of municipal administrators, KZN Cogta wishes to send an unequivocal message that bringing back order to the province’s troubled municipalities remains the department’s number one priority. The team will receive hands-on support from the department and their work in these municipalities will be monitored very closely. We have taken time to orientate them to the challenges and the expectations of the citizens not only of Msunduzi but of KwaZulu-Natal about their capital city.

“Dube-Ncube has urged all stakeholders to support and cooperate with the intervention team.”

(Compiled by Makhosandile Zulu)

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