KwaDukuza municipality has appointed Siyabonga Khanyile as acting municipal manager after the precautionary suspension of three senior officials during a provincial Section 106 probe.

Khanyile, the municipality’s executive director of community services and public amenities, was appointed during an in-committee council meeting last Thursday.

Municipal media liaison Bridget Shange said she could only confirm that Khanyile’s appointment was in line with applicable legislation.

The three officials, including municipal manager Nhlanhla Mdakane, were placed on precautionary suspension on February 13. The move is understood to be linked to a Section 106 investigation conducted by the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta).

Section 106 investigations are initiated when there are allegations of maladministration, fraud, or governance failures within a municipality.

A precautionary suspension is a temporary measure that removes an employee from the workplace while an investigation is under way. It is not a disciplinary finding and does not imply guilt. Officials are typically placed on full pay and benefits to protect the integrity of the investigation and prevent possible interference with witnesses or evidence.

The matter dominated discussions at last week’s public council meeting, with opposition parties calling for greater transparency regarding the investigation and its findings.

Mayor Siduduzo Gumede confirmed that a legal opinion had been requested and received, but said that further discussions needed to take place before a final decision could be made.

Meanwhile, civil society group the Dolphin Coast Residents and Ratepayers Association (Docrra) executive officer Stephanie Walker said the investigation could mark the beginning of a shift towards greater accountability.

She said Docrra and its KwaDukuza Organised Residents Alliance partners had met senior Cogta officials in early February last year to present evidence and request intervention.

“We continued to co-operate and provide evidence during the investigation, and we are grateful that Cogta has taken its oversight role seriously,” said Walker.

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