Latest news with #Buthelezi
IOL News
5 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Standoff in KwaZulu-Natal: Governance Crisis Halts Services in Umkhanyakude District
KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cogta Thulasizwe Buthelezi Image: Supplied THE ongoing standoff between KwaZulu-Natal's Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, and Umkhanyakude District Municipality's Speaker, Solomon Mkhobo, has led to a significant halt in essential services within the municipality. The clash underscored deeper issues of governance, accountability, and local authority autonomy. At the core of the disagreement was Mkhobo's accusation that Buthelezi was wielding his power to undermine the municipality's council authority. 'Let us start off by sorting out issues of abusing law, grandstanding, and suppressing the inferior party,' Mkhobo remarked, implying that the MEC may be concealing other troubling matters. He further denounced Buthelezi's leadership, referencing his tenure as a former mayor in Zululand and suggested that his current administration was being force-fed to the local council. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The hostilities escalated following a letter from the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA), Tsakani Maluleke, which requested Buthelezi's intervention due to the municipality's persistent failure to address material breaches in its operations. These breaches primarily stemmed from the municipality's inability to implement a credit and debt collection policy, as mandated by the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) of 2003. Maluleke's correspondence defined a "material irregularity", as being, 'any non compliance with legislation, fraud, theft, or breach of fiduciary duty,' which resulted in potential financial losses for the municipality. She highlighted the municipality's continued failure to recover outstanding debts from consumers, warning that such negligence was likely to cause significant financial harm. In response to the AG's urgent request for intervention, Buthelezi acknowledged the severity of the issues raised, affirming his commitment to act in the best interests of the residents of the Umkhanyakude District. He emphasised that the residents were the most affected by the pervasive lack of governance and service delivery. 'These residents bear the brunt of failed service delivery due to a lack of governance, financial, and consequence management measures within the district,' he stated, and committed to meet the AG's deadline for a formal report by August 15. However, Speaker Mkhobo contends that the municipality should not be held liable for interventions purportedly executed by 'faceless forces.' He pointed to the irregularity of the MEC's recent intervention, which came unexpectedly after a previous intervention had ceased on April 30, 2025, without being extended. 'What should have happened is that the MEC should have alerted us and drawn our attention to the emergence of new triggers that require resolution,' he responded, and articulated his concerns over the constitutional validity of the MEC's actions. As both parties dug in their heels, service delivery in the area hung in the balance, with residents of the district left in an uncertain position. Meanwhile, finance MEC Francois Rodgers has withdrawn financial support to the troubled municipality. Rodgers said they have applied almost all avenues to help Umkhanyakude, but it was to no avail. 'We have a limited budget as a provincial Treasury. Our teams have been involved there for six years trying to help in turning around the situation, but officials on the ground are making it difficult for us to do our work." Rodgers believes the funds could be better spent elsewhere. Umkhanyakude was placed under administration recently by the KwaZulu-Natal government. Last week, IFP leader and National Minister of Cogta, Velenkosini Hlabisa, vowed to defend the KwaZulu-Natal government's decision to place the struggling ANC-led Umkhanyakude District Municipality under administration, despite the ANC's defiance. Hlabisa stated that the government's decision remained firm and will not be influenced by political pressures. 'This is not a political intervention. This is a Cabinet decision. As long as municipalities are passing unfunded budgets, Section 139 will apply. "You can go and check the financial audit outcome of that municipality. It is not good; therefore, it qualifies for an intervention of this kind,' Hlabisa empathised. Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, echoed Hlabisa's sentiments saying that there was a unanimous decision in the Cabinet with all MECs, including the three from the ANC; therefore, he did not understand why the leadership was challenging it. Ntuli said Umkhanyakude was placed under administration alongside two IFP-led district municipalities, so the assertion by the ANC that it was targeting its municipalities was unfounded. 'We removed an ANC-led Mooi Mpofana Local Municipality from the administration in the same Cabinet meeting, so we do not understand why the ANC is complaining in Umkhanyakude,' said Ntuli. However, the ANC held a differing view. In a strongly worded statement, the ANC indicated that it rejected the unwarranted and politically charged decision by MEC Buthelezi to invoke Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution in the uMkhanyakude District Municipality. It said the so-called intervention was nothing short of abuse of constitutional provisions for political gain, adding that it lacks merit, rationale, and integrity. 'The ANC is appalled by the continued misuse of Section 139(1)(b) by the MEC, who has turned what should be a last-resort mechanism into a political weapon, one that is selectively and cynically deployed against ANC-led municipalities, regardless of their performance. "The uMkhanyakude District Municipality has made tangible progress in governance, financial recovery, and service delivery. There is no objective basis for this draconian step, which appears designed not to improve governance, but to score narrow political points and destabilise a functional administration,' the party's statement read. DAILY NEWS
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Auditor-general demands action from KZN Cogta MEC in troubled uMkhanyakude municipality
Auditor-general Tsakani Maluleke has instructed KwaZulu-Natal Cogta MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi to intervene in the trouble-torn uMkhanyakude district municipality. Buthelezi, an IFP deployee in the provincial legislature, and ANC-led uMkhanyakude officials are at loggerheads over the provincial cabinet's decision to place the council under administration. uMkhanyakude officials are resisting the decision, saying it is politically motivated. They have since taken Buthelezi to court over the matter. Earlier this month, Buthelezi was forced to announce that the municipality had been placed under administration at the entrance of the council offices after he was denied entry. On Sunday, Buthelezi said he had received formal correspondence from Maluleke instructing him to intervene in uMkhanyakude. 'The auditor-general has requested that I intervene in the uMkhanyakude district municipality due to the municipality's consistent failure to address material findings. These findings stem from the municipality's inability to implement a credit and debt collection policy, as required by section 62(1)(f) (ii) of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA),' said Buthelezi. A material irregularity is defined in the Public Audit Act (PAA), as 'any noncompliance with, or contravention of, legislation, fraud, theft or a breach of a fiduciary duty identified during an audit performed under this act that resulted in or is likely to result in a material financial loss, the misuse or loss of a material public resource or substantial harm to a public sector institution or the public'. In the correspondence, Maluleke highlighted that 'The failure of the municipality to implement the municipality's credit and debt collection policy for a number of years and to take reasonable steps to recover outstanding debt from consumers is likely to result in a material financial loss for the municipality'. The AG further stated that: 'The failure of the accounting officer to take appropriate actions to address the material irregularity led to a decision by the AGSA's material irregularity committee, duly delegated, to approve reporting in the audit report of the municipality on the material irregularity with recommendations, as provided for in section 20(4) of the PAA, read with regulation 4(3) of the MI regulations on the steps the accounting officer should take to address the material irregularity within a stipulated period in the audit report.' Buthelezi said he was aware of the grave nature of the issues raised by Maluleke, which were emphasised during a meeting with the AG on July 23. He said he was committed to acting in the interest of the residents of the uMkhanyakude district. 'These residents bear the brunt of failed service delivery due to a lack of governance, financial, and consequence management measures within the district,' he said, adding that the AG has requested a formal report from him by August 15.
The Citizen
6 days ago
- The Citizen
MEC calls on police to dig deep amid ongoing attacks on municipal workers
MEC calls on police to dig deep amid ongoing attacks on municipal workers The escalating number of attacks and murders targeting municipal workers across KZN demand immediate attention. This was the sentiment of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi, who said the statistics paint a disturbing picture and must be given immediate attention from law enforcement agencies. Buthelezi's concerns come after a series of tragic events, including the murder of Khalesakhe Mchunu, a municipal worker from uMsinga Municipality, who was tragically killed on Monday in oFabeni. This incident is one of several to have occurred in the past 30 days. 'On 27 June, Nokulunga Mashabane (32) was found with a gunshot wound in KwaDukuza. Just days later, on 3 July, an official from eThekwini Metro was tragically killed and others injured when unknown gunmen opened fire on their vehicle. 'I am deeply concerned by these developments, which unfortunately suggest a worrying trend that must be nipped in the bud. These attacks on public servants, who are dedicated to serving our communities, are unacceptable and undermine the very fabric of local governance,' said Buthelezi. The MEC urgently called on law enforcement agencies to conduct thorough investigations into these brutal crimes and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. 'No stone should be left unturned in bringing those responsible to account,' he emphasised. He also urged municipalities to strengthen existing measures aimed at safeguarding the well-being and safety of their employees. He further extended his condolences to the families affected by these senseless acts of violence, reiterating his call for swift justice for the victims. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer
The Citizen
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
uMkhanyakude District challenges intervention
uMkhanyakude District Municipality is challenging the intervention instituted by Cogta MEC Thualasizwe Buthelezi. This after Buthelezi placed the district municipality under administration and announced the appointment of Bamba Ndwandwe as administrator on Monday last week. Ndwandwe, a seasoned local government veteran, has extensive experience working with various municipalities across the province. According to Buthelezi, Ndwandwe assumed his duties on 1 July and will serve as the ministerial representative until December. ALSO READ: uMkhanyakude District Municipality challenges Cogta intervention Buthelezi also announced the initiation of a forensic investigation into allegations of corruption and maladministration that have been brought to his attention. This investigation, being conducted in terms of Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act, aims to thoroughly examine the various allegations. The intervention will ensure officials are held accountable should any wrongdoing be uncovered by investigators. Buthelezi further urged the municipal leadership to fully co-operate with the administrator and investigators. 'This cooperation is crucial to ensure the challenges facing the municipality receive the urgent attention they deserve,' he said. 'Fight back' uMkhanyakude Speaker Solomon Mkhombo claims the intervention has something to do with next year's local elections. 'He is using his position to say he is providing intervention in the interest of good governance. We know he is a wolf pursuing his political interest. 'We have written two letters to him, praying for him to open an engagement opportunity. We are still waiting for his response, but if he is not willing, we will be left with only one choice: to challenge the matter in court. 'We feel a lot of constitutional rights have been violated, and cannot fold our arms while being bullied. 'He is bringing a Section 106 investigation and we will co-operate with that investigation, provided it does not push any political agenda,' he said. ALSO READ: uMkhanyakude, Zululand districts get update on bulk water supply project Mkhombo said they viewed the MEC's action as undermining the legitimate authority of elected councillors and the will of the electorate that placed them in office. 'We do not have any reason to cooperate with the administrator; we will continue to work on our own, because as far as we are concerned, all the triggers that were raised before have been resolved. 'The previous intervention lasted almost five years, from February 2021 to 30 April 2025. When the intervention lapsed in April, the MEC misrepresented facts to Council on the basis that the intervention had not lapsed or terminated. 'Council refuted his claim in a letter addressed to him,' said Mkhombo. He went on to say that they are gravely concerned about the 'premature, unnecessary and procedurally unfair intervention that disregards the autonomy and constitutional rights of the local government institution', adding that the current state of governance at uMkhanyakude 'does not warrant this drastic measure'. 'The intervention should be used as a last resort, only when all other avenues have been exhausted, and only when there is a clear and sustained failure by the council to fulfil its executive obligations. We firmly believe this threshold has not been met in this instance,' he said. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
20-07-2025
- The Citizen
Municipality hosts safety and security awareness campaign to curb crime
The Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Community Services, Sizwe Buthelezi, brought together the eMalahleni community and various stakeholders for a safety and security awareness campaign at Lynnville Park. According to Buthelezi, the idea of the event, held on July 9, was inspired by the numerous complaints received in his office from different members of the community complaining about the increase in crime in the City of Coal. 'As the municipality, we have direct contact with the community and stakeholders at different departments, so it is our responsibility to bring the community together with the relevant stakeholders responsible for crime,' Buthelezi said. Through the gathering, the MMC explained that they aimed to create a positive response to the crime that has plagued eMalahleni, emphasising that they intend to do away with the culture of being more reactive than proactive. 'Instead of reacting to incidents, we are trying to encourage proaction, because crime prevention is key, and it must be primary,' he said. Buthelezi added that the various stakeholders they had which included representatives from the South African Police Service, law enforcement, traffic, fire department, disaster management, and the portfolio committee of the Department of Community Safety, Security and Liaison, were there to advice the community on how to be proactive and make them knowledgeable on the role they need to play in curbing crime. The Speaker of Council in eMalahleni, Clr Nombuso Shabangu, was also in attendance, reaffirming her commitment to creating a safer and more just society through collaboration with the community. Residents responded to the discussions and expressed their disturbing concerns regarding the rate of crime, and they all agreed that they need solutions, and they need them now. 'The level of crime in our city requires more strategic meetings in which we will go from ward to ward, discussing solutions,' said Themba Marabi, a resident of Ward 12. Buthelezi concluded, saying such campaigns and initiatives are a great starting point toward curbing crime. 'If you want to conquer the world, you start with the first step and continue until you reach your destination,' he said. Breaking news at your fingertips … Follow WITBANK NEWS on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok Chat to us: [email protected] At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
