/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), which is charged with overseeing the turnaround strategy in municipalities under intervention has announced the suspension of Mr SR Ntuli, the Municipal Manager of the Mtubatuba local municipality, as part of efforts to renew public confidence in the administration of this municipality.

Following investigations by the appointed administrator Mr Bamba Ndwandwe, the Municipal Manager has been placed on precautionary suspension on full pay with effect from 20 October 2014 pending the finalisation of the investigation and possible disciplinary proceedings against him,” said KZN Cogta spokesperson Lennox Mabaso.

•     The Municipal Manager is facing allegations of misconduct relating to the awards of bids.
•     Failure to perform the duties of the Municipal Manager in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government: Municipal Property Rates Act, 2006.

Since the allegations are of a serious nature, Mr Ntuli is prohibited from contacting any municipal employee or employee of any of the service providers appointed by the municipality and from entering any of the municipal premises without the supervision of the appointed Administrator.

The administrator contends that Ntuli’s continued presence at the municipality might jeopardise the investigation of the allegations made against him.  The Mtubatuba municipality was placed under administration by the Provincial Cabinet following the collapse of governance to the extent that operations had almost grounded to a halt, compromising the delivery of services.  As part of their mandate administrators must implement the recovery plan and take action against anyone compromising good and clean governance in the municipality.

To date the intervention in the Mtubatuba municipality has yielded more improvements including moving from a disclaimer audit opinion to a qualification in the 2012/2013 financial year. There has been improvement in project implementation with the MIG expenditure.  Operating deficit has been reduced from R27-million to R8-million. The municipality managed to clear a bank overdraft of R6-million in June 2013. Collection has increased from R900 000 a month to an average of R1.3-million–R1.6million a month. Infrastructure implementation programme has managed to complete all MIG projects implemented in the 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 financial years.

Issued by Government