Uncertainty of the ANC KZN PEC's legitimacy threatens stability at Msunduzi

19 September 2017

The recent High Court judgment regarding the legitimacy of the 2015 ANC Provincial Congress in KZN, ruling it irregular, has witnessed major distractions in Msunduzi. The DA KZN will today write to MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Nomusa Dube-Ncube, calling on her to take an active role resolving the crisis in Msunduzi Municipality, as ANC factional politics seem to affect the proper running of the city.

Portfolio meetings are cancelled at the 11th hour due to internal ANC factions. Today's portfolio meeting was cancelled, again, and an urgent notice for a Special Full Council Meeting to take place tomorrow has caused mayhem.

The indecisiveness of the ANC, both nationally and provincially, has failed to instil confidence that they are actually in control. Leaders of these factions are irresponsibly making decisions and now want to loot the city coffers by appointing the acting Municipal Manager, Mr. Sizwe Hadebe, in the vacant position. His current appointment has been shrouded in controversy, and his qualifications are questionable. It has been alleged that he has received his qualifying credentials only last week, for the position he is currently acting in.

With the indecision of whether the ANC PEC will be disbanded or not, the current leadership is wanting to appoint their lackey before their powers are removed.

Recent shenanigans at the City Hall has witnessed:

- The awarding of a R30 million sponsorship to a soccer club;

- R3 million for a Jazz Festival;

- R600 000 worth of reallocations for catering;

- The appointment of Clive Lotz (former DA Cllr) as the Manager in the Speakers Office; and

- Preferential debt write-off and settlement arrangements for Members of Parliament and former Msunduzi Deputy Mayor, Mervin Dirks, amongst others.

These decisions do not bode well for the ratepayers and residents of Msunduzi. We demand that the MEC Dube-Ncube takes urgent steps to deal with the factionalism, and places the interests of Msunduzi residents ahead of her personal political interests.

Issued by Mergan K Chetty, DA KZN Deputy Leader. 19 September 2017