KZN DA to approach court to force CoGTA to intervene in uMngeni Municipality

The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal will on Thursday approach the High Court in Pietermaritzburg to force the Acting Municipal Manager to convene the first council sitting in the uMngeni Municipality.

The DA won an outright majority in this municipality during the November 1 Local Government Elections.

Acting uMngeni Municipal Manager Sandile Buthelezi allegedly refused to call a council meeting.

This comes after the newly-elected council failed to sit last week, with councillors from the DA and the Economic Freedom Fighters walking out.

DA leader in KwaZulu-Natal, Francois Rodgers says, “The inauguration was supposed to have taken place last Friday. The suspended municipal manager was insistent that she was going to preside over the matter.”

“The DA and EFF then walked out. We had written to the Acting Municipal Manager requesting that he reconvene the meeting. He has ignored that request and this has left us with no alternative but to approach the High Court,” he adds.

Trespassing

Last week, the DA at the uMngeni Local Municipality opened a case of trespassing against suspended Municipal Manager Thembeka Cibane, for being illegally part of a council meeting.

It is said Cibane was to preside over the meeting and the inauguration of the councillors.

The DA said Cibane was suspended for over 35 cases of gross misconduct amongst others.

The DA and EFF councillors also opted to be sworn in at the local Magistrate’s Court instead.

VIDEO: SABC reporter Mlondi Radebe has more on the story: