Ongoing power struggles among the leadership of Mtubatuba Municipality last week impacted municipal staff who were not paid ahead of the weekend.
The municipality’s communications head, Philani Khumalo said the non-payment of salaries came after the municipal administrator, Nathi Madondo, had instructed the bank that acting municipal manager (MM) Thamisanqa Xulu should not be authorised to sign off on municipal banking as there is a pending court matter involving him.
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Xulu, Mayor Mxolisi Mthethwa, Deputy Mayor Nothile Mthethwa and Speaker Sibongile Shezi await the outcome of an appeal of last week’s
Pietermaritzburg High Court ruling which found that the 2 February election of the latter three was invalid.
Xulu was appointed as the acting MM after 2 February.
Khumalo confirmed that pending the appeal, the mayor, his deputy and speaker would continue to serve in their respective positions.
He said that on Monday municipal employees had received their payslips and their salaries were expected to be paid into their bank accounts by the afternoon.
According to Khumalo, the court had issued an instruction by Friday afternoon that Xulu should be allowed to sign off on the municipality’s banking.
He said the administrator is expected to make his presentations to the court on 25 March detailing why Xulu should not be granted permanent authorisation powers regarding the municipality’s banking.
Madondo referred the ZO to the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) for comment, but no statement was forthcoming.
Since the November elections, power at Mtubatuba Municipality has ping ponged from ANC to IFP as those opposed to elected leadership take their grievances to court.
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