Latest news with #Section154
IOL News
a day ago
- Politics
- IOL News
KwaDukuza Municipality 'rudderless', calls for Section 154 intervention grows
Opposition parties call for Section 154 in the embattled KwaDukuza Municipality. Image: Facebook Opposition parties in the embattled KwaDukuza Local Municipality have called on the provincial government to place the municipality under Section 154 as the ANC struggled to replace its fired mayor. According to a parliamentary document, Section 154 obligates national and provincial governments to strengthen municipal capacity, ensuring that municipalities can manage their affairs, exercise their powers, and fulfil their functions effectively. This support may take the form of legislative measures, financial assistance, and technical guidance, all aimed at enhancing local governance and ensuring sustainable municipal operations. The municipality has been without a political head since the resignation of mayor Ali Ngidi and his deputy Njabulo Cele two weeks ago. Attempts to elect a new mayor failed two weeks ago following an apparent revolt by ANC councilors who were said to be unhappy with the party's decision to bring back two former mayors Sduduzo Gumede and Lindiwe Nhaca as the new mayor and deputy mayor respectively. The meeting was cancelled at the last minute and the ANC said it was because of Luthuli House's intervention after the mother body reminded the provincial structure about interviews which first had to be conducted by the team of the National Working Committee. However, sources within the municipality said the meeting was cancelled after the ANC leadership learned that there were 10 councillors who were going to boycott the meeting and this would have given the opposition an opportunity to take over. ActionSA councillor Halalalisani Ndlovu said his party had already written to KwaZulu-Natal Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs' MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, to send a Section 154 team to take over, especially the financial administration of the municipality. Ndlovu said that his party's concerns stemmed from the fact that the finance committee has not met for two months because of uncertainty created by the ANC's dismissal of the mayor and his deputy. He stated that there were committee meetings that had to be cancelled because the mayor, as the chairperson, was not there. Ndlovu further stated that the last committee meeting was held in June, during which the agenda from May was still being considered. Since then, there have been no meetings to address matters for June or July. He said on July 25 — the day on which a meeting was again scheduled - it was postponed without explanation. 'The next meeting, according to the official calendar, is only set for 20 August. This means three consecutive months of committee inaction on key governance, budget and performance issues. 'In terms of Section 154 of the Constitution, I hereby request that your office urgently asses the governance and administrative functioning of the Finance Committee and provides appropriate support to restore its operations. "Furthermore, in light of the municipality's failure to fulfil its executive obligations, I ask that your department considers whether a Section 139(1)(b) (provincial) intervention may be warranted, should these issues persist unresolved," said Ndlovu. Weighing in on the matter, DA caucus leader Privi Makhan said the municipality was now a rudderless ship that cannot deliver for the people because the ANC is no longer capable of leading it. 'The DA reiterates our call to all opposition parties, if we are truly serious about rescuing this municipality, we must act together now,' said Makhan.
IOL News
a day ago
- Politics
- IOL News
KwaDukuza Municipality in disarray: Calls for Section 154 intervention
Opposition parties call for Section 154 in the embattled KwaDukuza Municipality. Image: Facebook Opposition parties in the embattled KwaDukuza Local Municipality have called on the provincial government to place the municipality under Section 154 as the ANC struggles to replace its fired mayor. The municipality has been without a political head since the resignation of mayor Ali Ngidi and his deputy Njabulo Cele two weeks ago. Attempts to elect a new mayor failed two weeks ago following an apparent revolt by ANC councilors who were said to be unhappy with the party's decision to bring back the former mayor Sduduzo Gumede and former mayor Lindiwe Nhaca. The meeting was cancelled at the last minute and the ANC said it was because of Luthuli House's intervention after the mother body reminded the provincial structure about interviews which first had to be conducted by the team of the National Working Committee. However, sources within the municipality said the meeting was cancelled after the ANC leadership learned that there were 10 councillors who were going to boycott the meeting and this would have given the opposition an opportunity to take over. ActionSA councillor Halalalisani Ndlovu said his party had already written to KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi to send a Section 154 team to take over, especially the financial administration of the municipality. Ndlovu said that his party's concerns stem from the fact that the finance committee has not met for two months because of uncertainty created by the ANC's dismissal of the mayor and his deputy. He stated that there were committee meetings that had to be cancelled because the mayor, as the chairperson, was not there. 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 ✕ Ad loading Ndlovu further stated that the last committee meeting was held in June, during which the agenda from May was still being considered. Since then, there have been no meetings to address matters for June or July. He said on July 25 — the day on which a meeting was again scheduled - it was postponed without explanation. 'The next meeting, according to the official calendar, is only set for 20 August. This means three consecutive months of committee inaction on key governance, budget and performance issues. 'In terms of Section 154 of the Constitution, I hereby request that your office urgently asses the governance and administrative functioning of the Finance Committee and provides appropriate support to restore its operations. Furthermore, in light of the municipality's failure to fulfil its executive obligations, I ask that your department considers whether a Section 139(1)(b) intervention may be warranted, should these issues persist unresolved," said Ndlovu. Weighing in on the matter, DA caucus leader Privi Makhan said the municipality is now a rudderless ship that cannot deliver for the people because the ANC is no longer capable of leading it. 'The DA reiterates our call to all opposition parties, if we are truly serious about rescuing this municipality, we must act together now,' said Makhan.
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Ravi Pillay expressed concerns over Msunduzi Municipality's finances
Co-leader of the Premier's Msunduzi Working Group (PMWG), Ravi Pillay, said Msunduzi Municipality's current financial situation is of great concern and will require careful and intensive management. Image: File Five months after being appointed to lead a turnaround team for Msunduzi Municipality, former KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC Ravi Pillay has described the city's current financial situation as a matter of concern. Pillay was appointed by Premier Thami Ntuli to co-lead the Premier's Msunduzi Working Group (PMWG), which was established under Section 154 of the Constitution in February, to help with a strategy to turn around the municipality's collapsing service delivery and financial control systems. 'The current financial situation is of great concern and will require careful and intensive management,' said Pillay. He said the employment of the new municipality manager (MM), Felani Mndebele, who started his duties on August 1, was encouraging as this would bring stability and facilitate the implementation of the recovery plan in the municipality. 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 ✕ Ad Loading The MM position was left vacant after Lulamile Mapholoba was fired last year, leaving a turmoil situation and a visible lack of service delivery. Pillay was appointed along with Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize to co-lead the PMWG, but Mkhize is no longer involved since she left her government job as the director-general (DG). Pillay said Mkhize has been replaced in the PMWG by provincial acting DG Dr Nkosenye Zulu. The DA wants the municipality to be placed under financial administration as it says the debts were up to R2 billion, failed to spend R15 million in grants, R10 million that was taken from the water department and redirected to the building of community halls, and is losing 60% in water, which amounts to R70 million per annum. DA Councillor Ross Strachan said water was wasted through leaking infrastructure, which was not maintained because of the absence of technical expertise, illegal connections, and non-functional water meters. This was while Ntuli's office was expected to provide the city residents with an update on the PMWG's work, which was due to be completed at the end of the year. Various government departments were estimated to owe the municipality over R200 million in unpaid services. Pillay said there was a facilitation for the payment of R45 million in government debt to the municipality. Businesses and households were previously reported to be owing the municipality billions of rand for rates and other services. Pillay said the municipality's financial situation will be a priority issue in the recovery plan, 'which at the same time must be holistic, covering issues from all work streams'. Pillay said PMWG was working hand-in-glove with municipality workers' labour unions, local and national business chambers, traditional leaders, ratepayers associations, community development structures, and the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa, Tsakani Maluleke. However, he declined to report on what the PMWG had achieved since it began its work, saying the progress report should come from Ntuli and Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla. 'The PMWG is accountable to the elected leadership of the province, led by the premier, and the municipality, led by the mayor. 'Public communication is, in the main, the domain of these two political offices,' he said. He said the final Diagnostic Report and Recovery Plan will be concluded this month, and thereafter, there will be stakeholder engagement. 'These processes will be led by the elected leadership of the municipality. Key to the success of our efforts will be building a genuine consensus and partnership among all stakeholders,' he said. Ntuli is yet to respond to questions sent to his spokesperson, Bongani Gina, on Wednesday. However, Thebolla also distanced himself from talking about the work of PMWG, saying that it was only Ntuli's office that could assess its performance. 'I can assure you that we are working very well with them (PMWG),' said Thebolla. He declined to respond to DA's allegations on the municipality's financial affairs, said he would first have to read the party's press statement, which this reporter forwarded to him. Strachan, who is a member of the city's executive committee, wants the municipality's financial affairs to be handled by the Finance MEC Francois Rodgers, the DA provincial leader. Strachan alleged that the political instability has rendered the municipality dysfunctional. 'The council is plagued by ANC infighting, failed oversight, and non-implementation of decisions. 'Leadership remains weak, with continuous disruptions and executive instability, resulting in a collapse of basic governance,' he said. Thebolla, however, disputed Strachan's infighting and instability allegations, saying 'this is the most stable municipality' within the local government sphere.
IOL News
01-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Knysna's future now in MEC Bredell's hands
Knysna mayor Thando Matika. Image: Facebook KNYSNA mayor Thando Matika has defended the municipality against the provincial government's plan to dissolve the municipal council, saying Knysna remained on the correct path to recovery. Local government MEC Anton Bredell recently notified the municipality of his intention to appoint an administrator until a newly-elected leadership takes over the municipality. Matika on Monday said they have implemented structural reforms and enhanced service delivery since the Council adopted the Consolidated Executive Obligations Monitoring and Enforcement Framework (CEOMEF) in June 2024, 'The journey is far from over but Knysna is on the correct path. A series of administrative and governance improvements were undertaken in August 2024, as outlined in the initial implementation report. 'By February 2025, the municipality had finalised the appointment of critical senior managers, achieved 97% completion of the Audit Action Plan, broadened the rollout of smart metering for both water and electricity. Tabled a budget-funding plan addressing sustainability beyond the 2024/2025 financial year, improved revenue management and expenditure control practices.' 'A multi-stakeholder Steering Committee, comprising representatives from the municipality, Provincial Government, and National Government, was established since the adoption of the Diagnostic and Support Plan on 1 March 2024 to oversee implementation and ensure accountability. Regular Steering Committee meetings, held both virtually and in person, provided a structured platform to monitor progress, escalate issues, and coordinate support across all three spheres of government. 'The latest Section 154 progress report was tabled before Council on 12 February 2025, supported by a comprehensive monitoring and reporting framework.' In his statement last week, Bredell said the municipality continued to experience 'serious challenges in governance and service delivery'. He cited several years of diagnostic assessments of the municipality's governance, financial, and service delivery matters. 'The assessment revealed deep-rooted governance failures, including a regressing audit opinion, an organisational culture of fear and uncertainty, political interference in administration, critical vacancies at senior levels, and a marked decline in service delivery." After Knysna municipality failed to adopt another report in December 2023, Bredell issued a notice of intention to intervene in terms of section 139 of the Constitution in the Knysna Municipality. However, at the time he said after considering the representations of the municipality, they developed the CEOMEF cited by Matika for the municipality to implement. According to Matika, by the close of 2024, a number of critical environmental and infrastructure achievements marked a turning point, notably the newly upgraded waste transfer station. To address Knysna's water and sanitation challenges, Matika said pumping stations and reticulation networks were upgraded, as well as 'increased functionality at the wastewater treatment works", among others. "The municipality responded to a notice from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) regarding wastewater non-compliance in May 2025. Mechanical defects at the wastewater treatment works were promptly addressed. A multi-stakeholder workshop held in April included DFFE, BOCMA, DWS, the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agency (MISA) and provincial departments to address discharge regulations. The municipality committed to weekly effluent quality reporting and applied for a coastal discharge permit," the mayor added.
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Telangana HC sets aside Endowments dept notice to Union Minister Bandi Sanjay
HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court has allowed a writ petition by Union Minister Bandi Sanjay, setting aside a 2016 notice from the Endowments Department directing him to register the Mahashakti Temple in Chaitanyapuri under Section 43(1) of the Endowments Act. The court ruled that the absence of a hundi or puja charges does not make a temple private, and all Hindu public temples fall under Section 1(3)(b) of the Endowments Act, 1987. Authorities were directed to consider Sanjay's 2016 plea for exemption under Section 154 within three months. Sanjay claimed he built the temple in 2010 at a cost of Rs 2 crore with no revenue generated, and that maintenance is handled solely by his family. The court criticised officials for not evaluating the temple's income or acting on Sanjay's request for nine years.
