Premier appoints new Mbonambi administrator

KZN Premier Willies Mchunu on Sunday appointed Martin Mbuyazi as administrator over the affairs of the Mbonambi Traditional Council.

The Premier, along with Cogta MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube, announced the appointment during an imbizo held at Nzalabantu sports ground.

This follows a long and bitter succession saga and legal wrangle that began after the death of the late Inkosi Mtholeni Mbuyazi in 2005.

The council has been without a traditional leader following the death of Inkosi Mbuyazi owing to a legal wrangle over who should succeed him.

The Mbuyazi people chose Sibusiso Mbuyazi as successor and he was officially installed as Inkosi in 2007.

Torrid history

According to a media release from the Premier’s office, the family then went to the Premier to say that an error had occurred and they would now like to install Mkhanyiseni as an Inkosi.

The Premier then rescinded the appointment of Sibusiso and issued a letter recognising Mkhanyiseni.

However, Sibusiso then went to court to have himself reinstated. The Premier also went to court to oppose the application.

The court then ordered that both Sibusiso and Mkhanyiseni not be appointed as either Inkosi or as an interim administrator until the matter was concluded.

During the court process, Sibusiso passed away.

However, his wife MaMkhize then filed fresh papers bringing the matter back to court.

The matter still remains in court, and the dispute is still affecting the stability of the community of Mbuyazi in Mbonambi because of endless protests.

Whether the appointment will satisfy the entire community and quell the unrest, remains to be seen.

Premier addresses effect on RBM

Premier Mchunu said the endless unrest had also affected operations at Richards Bay Minerals, whose Sokhulu mine in Mbonambi was closed down several times owing to the protests.

The ongoing feud was also stalling a R6-billion investment by RBM into the area.

‘As government we view RBM as a strategic partner and mining operations make a significant contribution to our economy.

‘As government we could no longer stand by and watch the growing instability in this area as the lives of people were also at stake.

‘We appealed many times to the family to try resolve this issue on their own, but they failed to do so.

‘We then had to use the powers given to us by the law to appoint an administrator who will work towards bringing about stability and unity in this area while the case continues in court.

‘However we have told him that he is only an administrator and nothing more, and that once the court rules on who should succeed Inkosi Mtholeni, he has to step back and allow that person to lead with no resistance,’ said Premier Mchunu.

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