The KZN Provincial Executive has at its recent meeting resolved to reinstate the constitutional intervention at Nquthu Local Municipality following a Pietermaritzburg High Court judgment which declared that appointments by the municipality of an Acting Municipal Manager, Acting Chief Financial Officer and Acting Director of Planning, Housing and Land Administration were invalid.
The KZN Executive Council has condemned the flagrant disregard and abuse of municipal processes in favour of unsuitable lackeys.
The concurrence of the courts in determining Nquthu Municipality’s glaring weaknesses in governance has created an additional impetus for the Provincial Government to act in this instance to ensure that this municipality returns to full functionality for the benefit of its residents. It is the view of the Provincial Executive Council that placing the municipality under administration in terms of Section 139 (1)( of the Constitution is the necessary step in this regard.
The Pietermaritzburg High Court judgement in the matter of irregular appointments by Nquthu Local Municipality was handed down on 17 May 2021. The KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Sipho Hlomuka joined in the court action which was initiated by a group of councillors from the Council who had expressed concerns about the legality of the appointments in question.
The Provincial Executive Council calls upon the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to hold those responsible for the wrong decisions to be held individually and severally liable. The costs incurred for all the illegal decisions must be recovered even if it means going to sequestrate the properties.
The Provincial Executive is a champion of good and clean accountability and transparency governance.
It is hoped that reinstating the intervention at Nquthu Local Municipality will not only restore public confidence in the municipality but will also serve as a warning to other municipalities which disregard proper processes in discharging their duties.
Issued by the Provincial Government Communication
For more information contact:
Lennox Mabaso on 0828842403
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