MEC Buthelezi blocked from addressing Umkhanyakude councillors
KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance MEC
Thulasizwe Buthelezi says he had to force his way through the gates of
Umkhanyakude District Municipality's offices in Mkuze after being denied entry
on Monday.
He has announced that the municipality is being placed under administration again, just months after a previous intervention was lifted in April.
Buthelezi said the Speaker and Municipal Manager blocked him from addressing councillors, forcing him to hold the meeting outside.
Bamba Ndwandwe has been appointed as the new administrator.
There is also a forensic investigation into alleged corruption and maladministration.
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"Our goal is to restore dignity and deliver services to the people who live and work in this district. Officials must stop mixing politics with their duties," said Buthelezi.
"Today, the community in Hluhluwe is protesting over water shortages, yet water tankers are being used at night to block me from accessing the offices.
"That alone speaks volumes about the crisis we’re dealing with here."
In a letter to the MEC last week, the district's Speaker, Solomon Mkhombo, said that while they note the provincial government's decision, they believe it lacks rationality and objectivity.
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