KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Nomusa Dube is ‘monitoring the affairs of Ntambanana closely’.
That’s the word from COGTA spokesperson Vernon Mchunu, who was responding to reports in the Zululand Observer last week of alleged dissension within the Ntambanana Executive Committee over the controversial appointment of a Municipal Manager earlier this year.
Of further concern is the fact that the municipality is still without a Municipal Manager and Chief Financial Officer while legal proceedings continue in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
This comes after ANC Councillors reportedly stormed out of a special Council meeting in June in protest over the appointment of MM J Madondo, who they allege had criminal charges pending against him.
The matter was reported to COGTA in an attempt to declare the meeting null and void.
‘The matter of the previous MM is in the process of being heard further in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
‘We are unable to go into further detail given that the matter is at this stage the subject of court processes,’ Mchunu told the Zululand Observer on Friday.
‘The MEC is monitoring the affairs of Ntambanana closely in terms of her oversight role over local government,’ he said.
Questioned whether COGTA would intervene at the embattled municipality to ensure service delivery is not hampered, Mchunu said an Acting MM was performing the duties of the accounting officer to ensure continuity in the leadership.
‘There is also an existing CFO, who has been employed recently on a contractual basis, pending the finalisation of the recruitment process by the Council.
‘The MEC has indicated to the municipality that they do have the recourse of seeking a secondment from the provincial government of suitable candidates, should it be that they feel they are not attracting candidates with the requisite acumen.’
The situation at Ntambanana comes as the Municipal Demarcation Board announced last month that the municipality would be dissolved and absorbed into uMhlathuze, Mthonjaneni and Mfolozi municipalities after the 2016 local government elections.
‘COGTA will continue to provide support necessary for this municipality to function and provide services to the people, so that come 2016, an absorbing municipality will find Ntambanana’s administration in good stead,’ added Mchunu.
The rural municipality, which is co-governed by the NFP and ANC, currently depends on government grants to survive.
15 NOVEMBER 2013
Ntambanana remains divided
WHILE residents of Ntambanana cry out for urgent service delivery including access to water, the Ntambanana municipality still remains without a Municipal Manager and Chief Financial Officer.
With only a Director of Corporate Services and Community Services in place, there has been reported dissension among members of the Executive Committee over the controversial appointment of a Municipal Manager in June.
The municipality, which is co-governed by the NFP and ANC, saw a breakdown of loyalty earlier this year when the NFP joined the IFP in removing Deputy Mayor MJ Xulu from his position and appointing Cllr EM Chonco as a new Deputy Mayor.
A new Municipal Manager J Madondo was also appointed at the special Council meeting on 21 June.
But according to top sources, ANC Councillors stormed out of the meeting in protest and further questioned the appointment of the new MM, who they allege had criminal charges pending against him.
‘ANC Councillors walked out of the meeting and reported the matter to the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) to declare the meeting null and void,’ a municipal source told the Zululand Observer.
The matter is now being heard at the Pietermaritzburg High Court.
Payment
However, while protracted legal proceedings continue, the Council still cannot come to an agreement over the payment of the MM and the new Deputy Mayor pending the legal outcome.
‘We cannot pay someone who has been interdicted. This resolution must be rescinded.
‘The meeting did not comply with the Standing Rules of Council and this has been reported to the Speaker. This was an illegal appointment,’ said the source.
Another meeting last month to discuss the back payment of salaries for the two new appointees also saw division among Councillors.
‘The meeting was a disaster. It was put to a vote and the ANC abstained from voting while the IFP joined the NFP.
‘We have now received an ultimatum that the new MM must be paid within seven days. This action is unlawful.’
And while political shenanigans play out, it is the people of Ntambanana who remain without basic services like water, sanitation and electricity.
A wholly rural municipality, Ntambanana depends solely on government grants to survive.
COGTA was unable to respond at the time of going to print but a statement will be released within the next week.
