Debate over proposed KZN mayoral system
Opposition parties in KwaZulu-Natal are calling the executive mayoral system recently proposed by the African National Congress undemocratic.
The ruling party has proposed that the system be adopted in after next year's local government elections.
This would give mayors absolute power when it comes to running municipalities.
A collective executive system has been used since 1996.
The Inkatha Freedom Party's Blessed Gwala says a system where all decisions rest on one person can not be supported.
"We have councillors who come from various sectors of our communities and different political parties to represent their communities. They must have an input in the budget but an executive mayor means that the mayor will dictate how the budget will be run," he said.
ANC officials said earlier this week that the proposed system would fast-track service delivery.
The DA's Zwakele Mncwango also disagrees with this.
"The system is proportional, so even if a decision have to be taken via a vote - the ANC will always have the right to take those decisions. So, the claim that the system becomes the barrier to service delivery has no base at all," he said.