KWAZULU-NATAL COGTA CHAIR NOTES UMDONI MUNICIPALITY COURT JUDGMENT

KWAZULU-NATAL COGTA CHAIR NOTES UMDONI MUNICIPALITY COURT JUDGMENT

Ms. Marlaine Nair, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), notes the High Court ruling regarding the ongoing dispute over the Acting Municipal Manager position at Umdoni Local Municipality.

The court struck the application filed by the MEC for COGTA, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, from the roll. The presiding judge ruled that the MEC’s founding affidavit was inadmissible and determined that the criteria for urgent legal intervention had not been met.

In response to the ruling, Nair stated:
“Crucially, this judgment does not provide a final resolution to the ongoing dispute regarding the administrative leadership of Umdoni Municipality. From an oversight standpoint, the persistent instability is troubling. A municipality cannot operate effectively while there is continued uncertainty surrounding one of its most senior administrative roles, and as long as disputes over its leadership remain a recurring matter for the courts.”

Nair added that residents of Umdoni required certainty, lawful decision-making and stable administrative leadership.
“Political and administrative disagreements cannot be allowed to undermine the functioning of the municipality or the delivery of services. The CoGTA Portfolio Committee will continue to monitor developments at Umdoni and the steps being taken to restore stability and proper governance.”

She said ultimately the focus must remain on a municipality that is properly governed and able to deliver services to its residents.