The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Msunduzi Municipality has formally written to both the National and Provincial Treasuries to request immediate intervention under Section 139(7) of the Constitution (view letter here).
We are calling for National Treasury to assume full control of the city’s financial affairs and to implement a financial recovery plan .
This request follows the complete collapse of the municipality both financially and physically, with basic service delivery failing, infrastructure deteriorating, and no signs of leadership recovery.
These include:
1. R2 billion and counting, in debt
2. Failed to spend R15 million in grants, putting the municipality at risk of receiving these grants
3. R10 million was taken from the water department and redirected to the building of community halls
4. 60% in water losses (R70 million per annum)
The Mayor, Mzi Thebolla, is also currently implicated in corruption in the municipality.
The political instability and ongoing dysfunction in council have made it clear that the current leadership is incapable of restoring governance or accountability.
While we acknowledge the appointment of the new municipal manager, Felani Mndebele, we have serious reservations about whether the selected candidate has the capability, independence, and integrity to turn this municipality around. Msunduzi requires strong, experienced, and apolitical leadership, someone with a proven track record in financial recovery, ethical governance, and service delivery.
This position is critical to the effective functioning of the city’s administration, especially given the ongoing collapse of basic service delivery, financial mismanagement, and the general decay of governance structures.
Even if it had been a better candidate, we believe that Msunduzi needs a complete overhaul politically and the municipal management.
The people of Msunduzi deserve dignity, safety, and functioning services. We will not sit back and watch this city deteriorate further. We demand urgent and decisive action in the public interest.