The MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) in KwaZulu-Natal has finally intervened to stop the ongoing instability at Dannhauser, a local municipality in the north of the province run by a coalition of the ANC, EFF and the Community Freedom Party.
Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi has since deployed Madoda Khathide, the deputy director general for the local government to go to the municipality and convene a special council sitting that will look into the vote of no confidence against the speaker, Sibusiso Myaka.
Buthelezi’s intervention comes after months of upheaval that saw some council sittings descend into chaos and shouting game.
The first chaos was when the council met to deliberate the suspension of the municipal manager, Mandla Sithole. Some councillors wanted the item to be put through a vote, but the Speaker and Mayor Bongani Hadebe refused and rammed through the suspension.
Sithole challenged the matter in the Durban labour court and won. He was later unilaterally suspended by Hadebe claiming that the municipality is appealing.
Two weeks ago Sithole called a meeting to debate the motion of no confidence against Myaka. In a push back, Myaka also called a council sitting to suspend Sithole. This led to a clash over which meeting is legitimate and should be held in the council chambers.
Both sittings eventually descended into chaos and collapsed.
Khathide is now empowered to convene the sitting to remove Myaka from office.
“Accordingly, I hereby designate Mr M. P. Khathide, the Deputy Director-General: Local Government Branch to call and chair the Special Council meeting in terms of the Rules and Orders of the Dannhauser Local Municipality and/or any other relevant legislative provision. It is proposed that the meeting be convened on Wednesday, 11 December 2024 at 10h00, in the Dannhauser Municipal Council Chamber.
“Further communication will be sent by the designated official in due course. Councillors of Dannhauser Local Municipality are called upon to cooperate with the person so designated,” Buthelezi said in his letter to the municipality.
