IFP stands firm on KwaZulu-Natal's controversial decision to place ANC-led municipality under administration
Image: Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs / Facebook
The IFP has vowed to defend the KwaZulu-Natal government's decision to place the struggling ANC-led Umkhanyakude District Municipality under administration despite the ANC's defiance.
In a media briefing on Monday afternoon, President Velenkosini Hlabisa dismissed ANC's assertion that the provincial government is targeting municipalities under its leadership for political reasons.
There was a drama last week when IFP's Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi was physically prevented from entering the premises of the municipality, in the north of the province, to formally introduce the appointed administrator, Bamba Ndwandwe.
Hlabisa stated that the government's decision remains firm and will not be influenced by political pressures.
'This is not a political intervention. This is a Cabinet decision. As long as municipalities are passing unfunded budgets, Section 139 will apply. You can go and check the financial audit outcome of that municipality. It is not good; therefore, it qualifies for an intervention of this kind,' said Hlabisa.
Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, who was at the briefing, said there was a unanimous decision in the Cabinet with all MECs, including the three from the ANC; therefore, he did not understand why the leadership is challenging it.
He said Umkhanyakude was placed under administration alongside two IFP-led district municipalities, so the assertion by the ANC that it is targeting its municipalities was unfounded.
'We removed an ANC-led Mooi Mpofana Local Municipality from the administration in the same Cabinet meeting, so we do not understand why the ANC is complaining in Umkhanyakude,' said Ntuli.
He also announced that the municipality has taken the government to court for the matter.
In a statement last week, the ANC said it vehemently rejected the unwarranted and politically charged decision by MEC Buthelezi to invoke Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution in the uMkhanyakude District Municipality.
It said the so-called intervention is nothing short of abuse of constitutional provisions for political gain, adding that it lacks merit, rationale, and integrity.
'The ANC is appalled by the continued misuse of Section 139(1)(b) by the MEC, who has turned what should be a last-resort mechanism into a political weapon, one that is selectively and cynically deployed against ANC-led municipalities, regardless of their performance.
'The uMkhanyakude District Municipality has made tangible progress in governance, financial recovery, and service delivery. There is no objective basis for this draconian step, which appears designed not to improve governance, but to score narrow political points and destabilise a functional administration,' read the statement.
The party said it stands with the Council of uMkhanyakude District Municipality in resisting the opportunistic, mischievous, and dangerous actions of a power-mongering MEC who is hell-bent on destabilising a functional municipality and undermining service delivery to communities.
It vowed to actively mobilise its supporters and communities to resist the advances of an MEC who the party described as having clearly defined himself outside of the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU).
There are fears that the continued souring of relations between these two major partners of the GPU may create instability in the province, which is known for its political complexities.
[email protected].
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The South African
25 minutes ago
- The South African
Malema's three-point comeback plan for fired higher education minister
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema hosted a press conference on Thursday, 24 July, ahead of the party's 12th anniversary. During the briefing, he addressed a range of political issues, including President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent decision to remove Dr Nobuhle Nkabane from her position as Minister of Higher Education and Training. Malema, who has been a prominent figure in politics from a young age, shared some advice for Nkabane in the wake of her dismissal. The Red Berets leader believes that with just three changes, the former minister can make a comeback. 'It's so painful. She's so young, she still has a chance to come back. I've seen people get demoted politically, and then they go rework on themselves, and then they come back,' said Malema. The politician offered some constructive advice. 'The first thing she must do is to stop chewing gum in a meeting. She was still doing it even yesterday, there in parliament. The second thing is she must be humble and know that she doesn't know and be prepared to be guided and be advised by proper people,' said the EFF leader. Finally, Malema said Nkabane must go back to her branch and learn, saying she was not ready to be a minister. In an interview with eNCA , Nkabane said she accepted her removal and viewed it in a positive light. Ramaphosa dismissed Nkabane in terms of Section 91(2) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. He has since appointed Buti Kgwaridi Manamela as Minister of Higher Education and Training. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news

The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Zondo and SACC urge immediate action as South Africa's corruption crisis escalates
Siyabonga Sithole | Published 5 hours ago With the country's anti-corruption fight reflecting a worrying trend, former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo and the South African Council of Churches (SACC) have voiced their widespread condemnation of South Africa's endemic graft, which has now reached critical crisis levels. This comes on the back of a high number of high-profile corruption-related arrests implicating some of the country's leading political figures. The SACC stated that pastors who live and show off their lavish lifestyles at the expense of poor congregants are no different from corrupt politicians. This is as the SACC continues to reflect on the scourge as part of its National Anti-Corruption conference currently under way in Johannesburg. Opposition political parties and analysts have weighed in on the country's dismal attempts at reigning in the scourge. Zondo, speaking during his address to the conference's delegates on Wednesday, indicated that the bending of rules to favour certain important people was at the heart of the country's corruption problem. "We bend the rules when we have done something wrong because that has happened when it should not have happened. The church must be the one that leads us. It must tell the rest of us not to bend the rules. The rules apply to everybody," he stated. Zondo also questioned the resolution taken by the ANC in 2007 to disband the Scorpions in favour of the Hawks, currently tasked with investigating high-profile cases. The Activists and Citizens Forum, through its spokesperson, Denis Bloem, said corruption will be hard to beat as long as the ANC still holds power. "The country believed that under former president Jacob Zuma's administration, corruption was at its peak. However, the country was mistaken. Corruption is worse now and out of control under President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration. " The reason why there is no end to corruption is that the government is infiltrated by criminals masquerading as political leaders. Meanwhile, they are the biggest thieves. "General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi told the country a few weeks ago that the South African Police Service is infiltrated by criminal syndicates and that some politicians are also on the payroll of these syndicates. Activists and Citizens Forum believe that corruption will not end as long as the ANC is in power. We know this so-called Government of National Unity is just a rubber stamp for the ANC," said Bloem. Reflecting on the excessive levels of corruption and fraud in the country, Rise Mzansi national spokesperson, Mabine Seabe, said the country's problems are not new, adding that all societies are affected by corruption. "Corruption is not a recent phenomenon, nor is it unique to a particular sector of society. What is of alarming concern is that it has taken hold of every aspect of life, where almost every service requires or can be extracted through corrupt means. The Zondo Commission illustrated the industrial nature of corruption with both the private and public sectors lubricating corrupt actions," he said. As for the recent bombshell by KZN Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi, which has implicated senior politicians and the SAPS, Seabe welcomed the recently established Judicial Commission of Inquiry to look into the criminal elements in the country's political elite and the police. "Moreover, the allegations made by Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi point to a nexus between powerful elites and organised crime. "We believe that the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry and Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee to probe Mkhwanazi's allegations are well-placed to probe the alleged collapse and capture of South Africa's safety, security, and justice apparatus; hold those responsible accountable; and recommend the necessary reforms," Seabe added. Attempts to get a comment from the ANC, which has been accused of failing to root out corruption among its leaders, were unsuccessful at the time of going to print. However, this week, ANC Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, addressed the recent developments affecting Senzo Mchunu during the ANC's National Working Committee (NWC) meeting with the Provincial Executive Committee, saying the party welcomed Ramaphosa's decision to establish a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the allegations against Mchunu. "Senzo Mchunu has an opportunity now, in terms of the audi alteram partem principle, to also present his side of the story . Once we listen to that, it is also evaluated in terms of facts by a competent, independent judge, and a judicial commission, like the president appointed, then we can pass judgment," he said. [email protected]

IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
President Appoints Judicial Inquiry Into Criminal Justice Interference
President Cyril Ramaphosa has taken a big step by officially appointing a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate claims of interference in South Africa's criminal justice system. Image: ANC/X President Cyril Ramaphosa has taken a big step by officially appointing a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to investigate claims of interference in South Africa's criminal justice system. The announcement was made through a government gazette on Wednesday and comes after growing public concern over the state of law enforcement in the country. The inquiry will be led by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, a respected judge with years of experience in the legal field. He will be in charge of finding out whether criminal networks or individuals have been able to influence or manipulate the justice system for their benefit. The commission has been given clear terms of reference, meaning it will look into specific areas such as the police, the prosecution system, and other institutions meant to protect the public. The aim is to find out if criminals or corrupt officials are playing a role behind the scenes. Next Stay Close ✕ This move follows serious claims made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Speaking in recent weeks, Mkhwanazi said he believed that parts of the police and broader justice system had been infiltrated by criminal elements. He warned that some officials were using their positions to protect criminals and to interfere with investigations. His comments shocked many and led to strong reactions from the public and political leaders. Some called for immediate action, saying the country cannot afford to have crime-fighting institutions influenced by the very people they are supposed to be stopping. In response to the concerns, President Ramaphosa has now acted by setting up this commission. In the gazette, he stated that the goal of the inquiry is to uncover the truth and restore trust in the system. He said all South Africans have the right to feel safe and to believe that the justice system is working for them, not against them. Justice Madlanga will have the power to call witnesses, gather evidence and make recommendations. The process may take months, but the outcome could lead to big changes in how the justice system is managed and protected. Minister of Police Bheki Cele and Minister of Public Service and Administration Senzo Mchunu are also expected to make submissions to Parliament regarding the allegations. Mchunu said he was preparing a full report that would deal with how appointments and oversight in the public service may have opened the door for criminal interference. Meanwhile, political parties have welcomed the inquiry but warned that it must be fair and transparent. The Democratic Alliance said that the commission must not be used to cover up deeper problems. The Economic Freedom Fighters said that long-standing issues in the police and prosecution services needed to be exposed once and for all. Ordinary South Africans have also weighed in. Many say they hope the inquiry will lead to change. 'We are tired of hearing that criminals are protected by those in power,' said one resident in Durban. 'If this commission can clean things up, then it is long overdue.' The commission will begin its work soon, although no exact dates have been confirmed yet for public hearings or final findings. Until then, all eyes will be on Justice Madlanga and the team around him.