Ousted Mandeni mayor, Siphesihle Zulu was sworn in as the new speaker of Ilembe District Municipality at a special council meeting on Monday.
The beleaguered former mayor was forced out of office earlier this year after hundreds of protesting community members took to the streets demanding Zulu’s immediate resignation.
During the violent protests, that dragged on for most of March, residents of KwaSthebe in Mandeni torched trucks and burnt down three vacant factories at Isithebe industrial site.
They also blocked the N2 freeway and stoned passing vehicles.
Local factories and businesses were forced to shut their doors as angry protesters demanded rapid change in Mandini’s local municipality management.
The community of the once troubled Mandeni municipality accused Zulu of alleged corruption, maladministration, fraud and other irregularities.
Protesters urged the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to recall Zulu.
ALSO READ: Mandeni municipal manager calls for peace and stability
Bowing to mounting pressure, the ANC provincial leadership placed Zulu on “special leave” in April pending an investigation conducted by the department of Co-operative Governance Traditional Affairs and Treasury officials (COGTA).
ANC PEC member Bheki Ntuli who received the protesters’ memorandum said: “These are very serious allegations and must be handled with care. The ANC will not hesitate to take action should any of these allegations prove true.”
It appears that Zulu quietly resigned as mayor but still retained his position as councillor in ward 13.
Having worked in local government since 2006, Zulu was appointed mayor of Mandeni in 2012 after the death of previous mayor Lindiwe Tshabalala.
This was Zulu’s second term in office before his forced resignation.
In his first address as speaker, Zulu told council that he was grateful to be given this opportunity by the ANC leadership to serve the Ilembe district and thanked the organisation for entrusting him in the position of council speaker.
“I am very excited and honoured to serve Ilembe District Municipality. I have been with Mandeni Municipality since 2006 and I believe that experience has prepared me to handle this task. I cannot wait to learn and benefit from the wisdom of the seasoned councillors here. My role will be to contribute and address the issues and aspirations of this municipality,” said Zulu.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Thousands march to Mandeni municipal office
DA caucus leader Madhun Sing congratulated Zulu on his appointment and offered the parties support but said the core function of this municipality was service delivery and pledged to work together to address the service delivery issues facing the municipality.
The IFP also congratulated Zulu and said his appointment had been based on merit and ability while he brought a wealth of experience to the council.
The EFF did not attend the meeting.
ANC congress whip, Sandeep Oudhram said the party would fully support the new speaker.
Zulu succeeds outgoing council speaker Lucky Makhathini who has been earmarked for a new role at KwaDukuza Municipality.
Asked for comment on the allegation brought against Zulu, ANC KwaZulu-Natal spokesperson Ricardo Mthembu said that the ANC did not have any report in their possession and was not aware of anything submitted by COGTA regarding allegations made against Zulu.
Mthembu said the new council speaker had a comprehensive understanding of council matters and was well respected by his colleagues and friends and the issues surrounding his tenure as Mandeni mayor could have been politically motivated.
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