The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal has learnt of the frivolous charges that have been levelled against two of our Councillors in Umdoni local municipality. The charges were laid by the ANC Municipal Speaker, Cllr Nombuso Mpanza-Mngadi, against Cllr Shara Singh and Edwin Baptie of the DA.
Both Councillors received written notification on the 29th of June 2020 that they have been referred to the Ethics Committee for breach of section 11(a) of schedule 1 of the Municipal Systems act 32 of 2000.
They have been accused of discussing municipal finance and budgetary matters with the media amongst other nonsensical charges. The relevant section 11(a) of the Systems act quoted in both charge sheets states that “A Councillor may not, except as provided by law interfere in the management or administration of any department of the municipal council unless mandated by the council.”
The DA is clear and unequivocal in its mandate to report to its constituents and the public at large through our DA representatives. This is the very reason these Councillors were elected. Neither the Speaker nor the ANC in Umdoni will intimidate the DA. Our Councillors are not answerable to the ANC, and they are accountable to those voters who elected them and to the residents of Umdoni. Our Councillors will continue to expose through the media, the failures of the ANC.
The ANC and their comrades in KZN continue to play puerile political games in local government at the expense of our people.
This on the back of Kimi Makwetu the Auditor-General’s appalling report on the state of municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal, one of the worst-performing provinces in South Africa, with continued and substantial regression.
Little wonder that these ANC-led municipalities are a failure when, as the AG’s report states, “there is often a blatant disregard for the legislation that governs good administration.”
The DA will monitor these spurious and absurd charges.
It is time the ANC in Umdoni focused on its core mandate, namely affordable and sustainable service delivery. They should do the right thing and get on with their job and listen to the AG and stop wasting time and money.