Opposition parties in the embattled KwaDukuza Local Municipality have called on the provincial government to place the municipality under Section 154 as the ANC struggled to replace its fired mayor.

According to a parliamentary document, Section 154 obligates national and provincial governments to strengthen municipal capacity, ensuring that municipalities can manage their affairs, exercise their powers, and fulfil their functions effectively.

This support may take the form of legislative measures, financial assistance, and technical guidance, all aimed at enhancing local governance and ensuring sustainable municipal operations.

The municipality has been without a political head since the resignation of mayor Ali Ngidi and his deputy Njabulo Cele two weeks ago.

Attempts to elect a new mayor failed two weeks ago following an apparent revolt by ANC councilors who were said to be unhappy with the party’s decision to bring back two former mayors Sduduzo Gumede and Lindiwe Nhaca as the new mayor and deputy mayor respectively.

The meeting was cancelled at the last minute and the ANC said it was because of Luthuli House’s intervention after the mother body reminded the provincial structure about interviews which first had to be conducted by the team of the National Working Committee.

However, sources within the municipality said the meeting was cancelled after the ANC leadership learned that there were 10 councillors who were going to boycott the meeting and this would have given the opposition an opportunity to take over.

ActionSA councillor Halalalisani Ndlovu said his party had already written to KwaZulu-Natal Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs’ MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, to send a Section 154 team to take over, especially the financial administration of the municipality.

Ndlovu said that his party’s concerns stemmed from the fact that the finance committee has not met for two months because of uncertainty created by the ANC’s dismissal of the mayor and his deputy. He stated that there were committee meetings that had to be cancelled because the mayor, as the chairperson, was not there.

Ndlovu further stated that the last committee meeting was held in June, during which the agenda from May was still being considered. Since then, there have been no meetings to address matters for June or July. He said on July 25 — the day on which a meeting was again scheduled – it was postponed without explanation.

“The next meeting, according to the official calendar, is only set for 20 August. This means three consecutive months of committee inaction on key governance, budget and performance issues.

“In terms of Section 154 of the Constitution, I hereby request that your office urgently asses the governance and administrative functioning of the Finance Committee and provides appropriate support to restore its operations.

“Furthermore, in light of the municipality’s failure to fulfil its executive obligations, I ask that your department considers whether a Section 139(1)(b) (provincial) intervention may be warranted, should these issues persist unresolved,” said Ndlovu.

Weighing in on the matter, DA caucus leader Privi Makhan said the municipality was now a rudderless ship that cannot deliver for the people because the ANC is no longer capable of leading it.

“The DA reiterates our call to all opposition parties, if we are truly serious about rescuing this municipality, we must act together now,” said Makhan.

ANC regional task team coordinator Nkosenhle Mngadi said he was in a workshop and would respond but had not done so by the time of publishing.

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