KZN Cogta MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi clashes with Umkhanyakude Municipality over intervention

KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi was forced to address councillors outside the locked gates of the Umkhanyakude District Municipality in Mkhuze, in the far north of the province, yesterday after senior municipal officials allegedly attempted to block his visit.

The MEC described the incident as a blatant act of obstruction by officials, including the Speaker and Municipal Manager of the Umkhanyakude District, who “barricaded the entrance to the municipality” to stop him from fulfilling his constitutional responsibilities.

With the doors to the municipal offices locked, the MEC held his meeting at the entrance of the building, where he informed councillors that the Provincial Executive Council had resolved to place the municipality under administration in terms of Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution.

“This section empowers the provincial government to appoint an administrator when a municipality fails to fulfil its duties of providing services to communities,” Buthelezi explained.

In a statement yesterday afternoon, Umkhanyakude Municipality said it was strongly opposed to the intervention by the Cogta MEC and stated it was irregular.

Buthelezi announced the appointment of Bamba Ndwandwe as the new administrator. “Mr. Ndwandwe is a seasoned local government veteran with extensive experience working with various municipalities across the province,” the MEC said. Ndwandwe officially took office on July 1. His immediate mandate is to stabilise the municipality and develop a “comprehensive turnaround plan” to address the issues that led to the intervention.

Buthelezi also revealed that a forensic investigation, authorised under Section 106 of the Municipal Systems Act, had been launched to investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration. “The investigation aims to thoroughly examine the various allegations, and officials will be held accountable should any wrongdoing be uncovered by the investigators,” he said.

The MEC called on the absent municipal leadership to cooperate fully with both the administrator and investigators, stressing the importance of urgency. “MEC Buthelezi reiterated his unwavering commitment to working collaboratively with all KZN Municipalities to ensure they effectively deliver services and prioritise the interests of their communities,” the department stated.

Despite the confrontation, Buthelezi affirmed: “The MEC remains undeterred and will continue to work in the best interests of the residents of the KwaZulu-Natal province.”

In a statement issued by the Speaker TS Mkhombo, the municipality said the council of Umkhanyakude District Municipality has taken a position to strongly oppose the recent intervention instituted by Cogta.

It said the previous intervention lasted for almost five years from February 2021 and lapsed in April this year. “When the intervention lapsed in April 2025, the MEC misrepresented facts to the Council on the basis that the intervention had not lapsed or terminated. He wrote correspondence to that effect. Council refuted his claim in a letter addressed to the MEC.

“The Council is gravely concerned about what it perceives as a premature, unnecessary, and procedurally unfair intervention that disregards the autonomy and constitutional rights of the local government institution. “We view this action as undermining the legitimate authority of elected councillors and the will of the electorate that placed them in office."

The statement added that there was no comprehensive engagement process between Cogta and the council of Umkhanyakude before the invocation. “Proper cooperative governance requires open dialogue, support, and mediation before imposing provincial control.

“We would have expected, as a matter of due process and good governance, that the department would engage with the council, identify the areas of concern, and allow reasonable time for internal corrective measures to be implemented.

“No formal warnings, performance audits, or technical support processes were offered to the municipality before the intervention. This makes the decision procedurally unfair and administratively excessive," said the statement by the Speaker.

THE MERCURY