ANC sabotages uMngeni inauguration

12 November 2021

The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal has walked out of the proceedings where our first municipality in the province was to be inaugurated. This followed an abundantly clear attempt by the ANC to sabotage the proceedings.

The suspended Municipal Manager, Thembeka Cibane, attempted to preside over the inauguration. The DA raised various points of order relating to her as presiding officer as the entire process was therefore irregular. Consequently, the DA walked out of the proceedings – a step that was supported by the EFF.

Currently, the DA uMngeni caucus members are being sworn in at the Howick Magistrates court.

This clearly orchestrated tactic by the ANC and their suspended official is, unsurprisingly, evidence of the arrogance of an ANC unable to accept defeat in uMngeni. It is a pity that the ANC in uMngeni didn’t take the advice of its provincial leader to undergo counselling and accept defeat.

In our desire to get things going, the DA and other opposition councillors have been sworn in at the Howick Magistrate Court. See here ,

We have also begun legal proceedings to ensure that a new council meeting is called and Mayor-elect Chris Pappas and his team are inaugurated. The voters of uMngeni have given us that mandate and we will ensure that our mandate to govern is carried out without further delays.

Statement issued by Francois Rodgers MPL, DA KZN Leader, 12 November 2021

Update:

uMngeni acting municipal manager has until Monday to reconvene council or face court action

13 November 2021

The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal has written to uMngeni acting municipal manager, Sandile Buthelezi, giving him until Monday 15 November 2021 to reconvene the inaugural council meeting.

Should Mr. Buthelezi fail to do so, the DA will approach the Pietermaritzburg High Court on an urgent basis to compel him to call the council meeting. We have also made it explicitly clear that the DA will seek a personal costs order against Buthelezi should we end in court.

In our extensive letter, see here, here, here , we make it very clear there can be no doubt that he is the lawful acting municipal manager after he stood back and watched the suspended municipal manager, Thembeka Cibane, run the show in violation of her suspension conditions.

The DA will spare no expense or legal resource to ensure uMngeni Mayor-elect, Chris Pappas, Deputy Mayor-elect, Sandile Mnikathi, and Speaker-elect, Janis Holmes, are lawfully elected so that we can start to deliver services to the residents of the municipality.

We hope Mr. Buthelezi will come to his senses and put the interests of the residents of his municipality first over political trickery.

Statement issued by Dean Macpherson MP, DA KZN Chairperson, 13 November 2021