DA welcomes High Court judgment on uMngeni

18 November 2021

The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal welcomes the judgment handed down in the Pietermaritzburg High Court today that the Acting Municipal Manager, Sandile Buthelezi is lawfully appointed and still rightfully occupies the position. See here, here, here

 The DA had to approach the court on an urgent basis after Mr. Buthelezi claimed he was not the uMngeni Acting Municipal Manager and that suspend municipal manager, Thembeka Cibane was now back in her job.

 Mr. Buthelezi opposed our application to assist him to find legal certainty to his position.

 We also welcome the courts interdict against Ms. Cibane from setting foot on municipal property in violation of her original suspension.

 It is a sad day when the DA had to approach the court like this to get municipal officials to do their job while the KZN MEC for COGTA stood back and watched this circus unfold.

 The DA in KZN looks forward to the Acting Municipal Manager calling a meeting of the uMngeni council so that our Mayor-elect, Chris Pappas can be duly elected.

 This judgment sends out a clear message that municipal officials need to stay out of politics  and focus their energy on service delivery.

 The DA looks forward to the DA team being inaugurated on Monday in uMngeni so that we can deliver on our mandate to the people.

Issued by Francois Rodgers, DA KZN Leader, 18 November 2021