Michael Sutcliffe takes charge of uMsunduzi Municipality's turnaround efforts
Image: KZN-Cogta
Dr Michael Sutcliffe has been appointed as the governance expert to support the uMsunduzi Local Municipality on Tuesday.
His immediate task is the implementation of a turnaround plan, with a specific and urgent focus on restoring service delivery, strengthening good governance, restoring investor confidence, and ensuring sound financial management, explained KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi.
This appointment, made in terms of Section 154 of the Constitution, is a crucial step towards implementing a comprehensive turnaround strategy for the municipality, added Buthelezi.
Dr Sutcliffe was formally introduced as the new appointee during a meeting between the Buthelezi and the Msunduzi Executive Committee.
'With extensive experience in local government, Dr Sutcliffe previously served for over nine years as the eThekwini municipal manager and has also worked as a local government expert, supporting municipalities across the province,' Buthelezi stated.
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Sutcliffe's appointment comes after a sustained outcry over deteriorating municipal infrastructure and a sharp decline in business confidence in the Pietermaritzburg CBD.
'Dr Sutcliffe has successfully completed a major service-delivery turnaround in eThekwini Municipality over the past 12 months. It is the collective responsibility of all councillors to support Dr Sutcliffe in his critical role,' Buthelezi said.
He said that this support is essential to benefit the broader uMsunduzi community and all ratepayers. Buthelezi also called upon the councillors to uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability to the residents they serve.
'Councillors will give their full support for what they view as a timely and necessary intervention. They believe this move will significantly strengthen the municipality's ability to tackle its current challenges,' he said.
Buthelezi was accompanied by the Acting Head of Department, Dr Krishnan.
This appointment demonstrates CoGTA's commitment to placing the uMsunduzi Municipality on a sustainable path to recovery and effective service delivery.
Marlaine Nair, CoGTA Portfolio Committee chairperson, welcomed the appointment because Msunduzi, she said, has been in desperate need of intervention. Nair also welcomed the progress being made by KZN Premier Thami Ntuli's Msunduzi Working Group (PMWG).
'We look forward to the forthcoming diagnostic report and turnaround plan. This will be key to charting a sustainable path forward for the municipality and restoring service delivery for residents,' she said.
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Sutcliffe previously served as the eThekwini municipal manager and has also worked as a local government expert, supporting municipalities across the KZN province. Waldhausen explained that Sutcliffe's terms of reference for the appointment include monitoring progress in addressing issues raised by the Auditor-General and to also work closely with the Premier's Working Group (PWG), and providing monthly progress reports. 'We are deeply concerned about the appointment of another expert. Since 2010, the municipality has been placed under administration twice, with intervention and support from the Department of Cooperative Governance and from ministerial representatives to the Premier's Working Group,' he said. Waldhausen said that both the Msunduzi Municipality and KZN CoGTA representatives use the words 'turnaround strategy', but to date, the strategy has not been made public, and that they are excluding important stakeholders like ratepayers. 'We do not see tangible results of the turnaround strategy as the city continues to regress from bad to worse. We have advocated since its inception in 2019 to place the municipality under Section 139 (1)(c) of the South African Constitution and to dissolve the council and appoint an administrator who would work with all stakeholders to turn around the city for the better,' he added. Waldhausen said Sutcliffe and the PWG have a short period to try to turn around the fortunes of the city as the country draws closer to the 2026 local government elections and the election of a new administration. 'By not including all stakeholders in all these processes, they are doomed to fail as the stakeholders can provide solutions to the many challenges faced by the city,' Waldhausen said. He added that MARRC has made a submission on the discussion document on the White Paper on Local Government and calls for the overhaul of local government at all levels in order to rescue all municipalities in South Africa. Sutcliffe declined to comment due to protocol, but only stated that he was delighted with the appointment. Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla said that, like many other municipalities, Msunduzi was not immune to challenges. 'We believe that working with Sutcliffe will make a meaningful difference in strengthening service delivery, restoring good governance, and putting our city firmly on the path of recovery. Council has pledged its full support for this intervention to ensure that the people of Msunduzi benefit from this partnership,' he said.
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