Disciplinary charges should be brought against those municipal workers who assaulted acting Municipal Manager, Advocate Reshwant Brijraj, at the municipal building on December 18.
So said Endumeni Council Speaker Sduduzo Mdluli, in a frank interview with the Courier over the chaotic state of the municipality.
Advocate Brijraj was attacked and pushed to the ground after trying to resume his post following a Council decision that declared null and void a September resolution that uplifted the suspension of Municipal Manager Thabani Biyela.
“Charges should be brought against those responsible for the attack. The incident deeply embarrassed our town.”
Speaker Mdluli has also found himself a victim of the ongoing strife, with his office in the municipality being broken into, papers and files disturbed and an insulting hand-written note left on a piece of paper, on which there was a letter written by the Speaker to Mayor Thulani Mahaye and the Municipal Manager Thabani Biyela.
“I found my office door damaged when I arrived back at work last Monday. I was away for a while during the festive season, and only knew about the break-in when I came back. I reported the incident to the caretaker and the SAPS.”

‘Daily intimidation’
Asked if the break-in made him feel uncomfortable, Speaker Mdluli said he was ‘getting quite used to the daily intimidation’ that he and others are up against.
He admitted that 2013 had been ‘a bad year’, and said it was now a time for ‘bold political leadership that will stamp its authority on the town to ensure that the core function of effective service delivery is realised’.
“We need strong leadership to ensure decisions taken are defended. Not leadership found wanting. We want leadership that will iron out the chaos and lawlessness that we have experienced, even if this means taking unpopular decisions. After all, we are here to serve the needs of all residents – not individuals.”
He admitted that, “It is going to be a difficult road ahead, with many challenges, but something will have to be done to ensure that Endumeni does not become a ghost town.”
Asked if he carried the mandate of the ANC leadership, Speaker Mdluli said he is ‘a deployee of the party’ and has ‘never zig-zagged’ from the decisions taken and agreed upon by the ANC leadership, to which he is answerable.
“We need stability in our town – people are looking at us to achieve this.”
Turning to his relationship with other ANC councillors, he said, “There is a solid political relationship between the six ANC councillors, and a feeling of mutual respect.
“Residents must know that we are serious about tackling all the issues that we are faced with. This is not a narrow bridge. We will not be deviated by the rolling thunder used by some sections (of the community) to destabilise our town – people with narrow agendas and selfish expectations.We need to take this situation on as a collective.”
He also called on the ‘higher authorities’ – such as COGTA (Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs) – to help rectify any wrongs and to come up with ‘solid solutions’. “Yes, there will be robust debate, and we may as councillors agree to disagree. So be it.”
Asked who was presently the legally-appointed Municipal Manager, Speaker Mdluli pointed out that the December 3 council meeting had voted by majority to declare null and void the September 25 meeting, which had uplifted Municipal Manager Thabani Biyela’s suspension.
“The September meeting made decisions without a quorum. The December 3 meeting was legally quorated and a decision made – so legally the decision taken then means that Mr Biyela is still suspended.”
Turning to other issues, he added that he was hopeful of a start this year on the construction of around 635 houses on the Sibongile buffer strip, while a start has been made to build more houses in Sithembile.