• Municipality facing Section 139 administration and potential council dissolution.
• Mayor’s conduct at the centre of the scandal.
• Voters can change this when they go to the polls on 4 November.
Please note Tim Brauteseth, MPL sound bite in English
The Democratic Alliance in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Legislature is deeply concerned by shocking revelations regarding Endumeni Municipality, which emerged during a Section 132 Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) hearing held yesterday.
Evidence presented paints a picture of systemic corruption, financial mismanagement and a blatant disregard for the law by the current administration.
This is a municipality facing Section 139 administration, along with the potential of council dissolution.
At the centre of this scandal is Mayor, Mcebo Mkhize’s conduct. The payment of R237 000 to a single individual, for one day’s work, coupled with the mayor’s false denial of knowing him, is a direct violation of MFMA Section 60. This is not only a breach of fiduciary duty but a deliberate misrepresentation to the public.
Endumeni’s disaster relief fund mismanagement is equally damning. While R747 000 was allocated for materials to rebuild damaged structures, R500 000 worth of goods never reached beneficiaries.
Reports regarding the matter were blocked by the IFP in council, leaving vulnerable residents without aid. This contravenes MFMA Sections 62 and 173, which require municipalities to prevent losses and hold officials criminally liable for misconduct.
Asset disposal irregularities further highlight the rot. A grader valued at R1.8 million was auctioned for a mere R550 000, with no report submitted to council, despite repeated requests from the DA. This is a flagrant breach of MFMA Section 14 and raises serious questions around corruption and cadres enriching themselves.
Fuel card abuse by the mayor, exceeding the R20 000 monthly limit and allegedly using municipal resources for political party related travel, are another example of public funds being diverted for political gain. This violates MFMA Section 65, which requires payments to be made only for legitimate municipal purposes.
Further breaches include:
• The mayor’s unauthorised use of a municipal vehicle, which was then involved in an accident in June 2026,
• The irregular appointment of officials and legal firms,
• Supply Chain Management (SCM) irregularities with grossly inflated prices, and
• The failure to recover R17.6 million flagged by the Auditor General (AG).
Endumeni’s Section 132 hearing has laid bare the truth. This is a municipality in crisis, and accountability can no longer be delayed. The DA now demands immediate consequence management. Criminal investigations under MFMA Section 173 must be instituted, irregular expenditure recovered and disciplinary action taken against all implicated officials.
Endumeni residents do not deserve a municipality that squanders resources through corruption and mismanagement. When voters go to the polls on 4 November, they will have the opportunity to change this and install a new leadership that delivers services for all.