Mayor leaves Umdoni for Premier’s office

Umdoni Municipality mayor Sibongile Khathi said she was not recalled as the municipality’s political head, but she resigned due to personal reasons.
Khathi will be working as the director of the Protection of Human Rights at the Office of the KZN Premier as of October 1.

The outgoing mayor announced her resignation as a proportional representative councillor and mayor during her last press briefing last Thursday at the Umdoni Council Chambers.

Khathi was elected as the mayor during the 2021 local government elections.

“The speculation is that I was recalled, it was a personal decision. I applied for the post, I went for an interview and I was assessed. I will be joining the administrative part at the office of the Premier. This is not something new, before I became the deputy mayor and mayor of Umdoni, I worked in this municipality as an official in the special programmes unit,” she said.

She explained that she is not completely leaving politics as she is still an active member of the ANC in her branch and the Tolomane Mnyayiza Region.

“I am resigning with a heavy heart, I grew up in Umdoni, and I have been involved in activities that develop the people of Umdoni from a very young age. I became an activist in my early 20s, I know the challenges faced by the people of Umdoni, and I understand them. I will always cherish the opportunity I have had to serve and I am grateful to my organisation the ANC because I was deployed by it. I also wish to send my appreciation to the communities of Umdoni for giving me the opportunity. I appreciate the support from my colleagues, council as well the administration. I wish the ANC caucus, the municipality, and the council of Umdoni all the best in fulfilling our mission of becoming the jewel of the South Coast. I wish the council the best in building better communities through service delivery, local economic development, and job creation but most importantly, serving as a government that is effective and efficient,” said Khathi.

She told Fever that her career goal is to help communities, saying that working with the public is all she knows and all she has ever done.

Meanwhile, the speaker of Umdoni Council, Mbali Cele-Luthuli said Khathi has a lot to be proud of that has been achieved by the municipality under her leadership.

“On behalf of the Umdoni Council and senior management, I wish her success in her future endeavours. And may she continue to advocate for the creation of a better life for the communities we serve,” said Cele-Luthuli.

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