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IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
IFP stands firm on KwaZulu-Natal's controversial decision to place ANC-led municipality under administration
IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa has defended KwaZulu-Natal government's decision to place the 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].
IOL News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Political tensions rise as ANC defies IFP-led cabinet decision in KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal Government of Provincial Unity is under threat after IFP and ANC clash over the administration of municipalities. Image: IOL / Independent Newspapers A political clash which may threaten the stability of the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) in KwaZulu-Natal is looming between the ANC and IFP. Parties have traded public blows over the IFP-led cabinet's decision to place the ANC-led Umkhanyakude District Municipality under administration. Although ANC's three MECs were part of the meeting that approved the decision, the party provincial task team leadership has publicly defied the cabinet decision and called on its deployees in the municipality to defy the order. On Monday, the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi returned without introducing the appointed administrator Bamba Ndwandwe after he and his team were prevented from entering the municipality premises in the north-east of the province. The mayor and senior officials did not attend the meeting. The angry MEC has vowed to ensure that the cabinet decision was implemented. On Wednesday, he said he warned the ANC and threatened to take legal action should it continue to defy the government's decision. 'We will not allow anyone to prevent the government from doing its work. If the ANC continues preventing me from executing my constitutional duties I will take legal action. This is a cabinet decision,' said Buthelezi. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ In a statement, the ANC said it vehemently rejects the unwarranted and politically charged decision by the MEC Reverend Thulasizwe 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, vowing 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 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.
TimesLIVE
06-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
IFP recalls mayor of Jozini after NEC holds special meeting
Flamboyant Jozini mayor Mfananaye Mathe has been demoted to an ordinary councillor. Mathe, who referred to himself as king of the mayors, was stripped of the role at the northern KwaZulu-Natal municipality by his party, the IFP. IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa said: 'The IFP NEC held a special meeting with the IFP Jozini constituency executive committee and the Jozini IFP caucus of councillors to consider governance challenges and related matters in Jozini municipality.' After 'extensive discussions and careful consideration of all material facts, the NEC decided to reconfigure the Exco of Jozini municipality'. 'The IFP extends its appreciation to the outgoing leadership of Jozini. 'These changes are part of the IFP's ongoing assessment of all IFP-led municipalities. The party remains committed to good governance,' said Hlengwa. Mathe survived the chop in February when his colleague Petros Ngubane, who was mayor of Umzinyathi district municipality, was demoted to ordinary councillor. Last month, the ANC in Jozini marched against Mathe, saying the municipality coffers were empty because of mismanagement. On Monday, Mathe was seen in a video doing his job as an ordinary councillor where he presented a housing project to ward 6 residents. He told them he didn't join the IFP for positions but 'to serve the people'.
