KwaDukuza Municipality has woken up this morning without an Acting Municipal Manager, because the ANC-led Council failed to secure a lawful solution before the previous acting term expired.
The Municipal Manager remains on suspension, and after six months of interim leadership, the Acting Municipal Manager’s term expired on 27 August.
Council had already resolved to motivate the MEC for an extension. Instead, the ANC-led Council changed course and created uncertainty around the way forward.
The DA objected because this is not about individuals or political preferences. It is about governance stability. There must be no vacuum in the office responsible for the day-to-day administration of KwaDukuza.
The ANC has now left KwaDukuza with a dangerous governance position, due to their political games. As of 00:01 this morning, there are serious implications here, which result amongst other factors, legal and financial accountability to the AG.
That is why the DA has urgently approached COGTA for a definitive legal opinion and immediate guidance on the lawful mechanism to ensure that KwaDukuza has an Acting Municipal Manager without further delay.
Residents deserve a municipality that is governed, not one left rudderless because the ANC cannot get its house in order. The DA will continue to demand accountability and a lawful, immediate solution.