The Umzinyathi District Municipality has rejected a statement issued by the IFP last week where the party demanded Speaker, BS Chambule, step down or face a vote of no confidence.
The IFP’s Mbangiseni Yengwa, a former Umzinyathi Mayor and now an executive committee member at Umzinyathi, said in a statement that ‘Chambule has become an obstacle to the functioning of the District Municipality when it comes to addressing concerns from opposition parties concerning pertinent issues of service delivery and administration’.
Several concerns have been raised about the appointment of a company called AB Projects as a consultant.
They have simultaneously become the implementing agent for municipal projects. “Most critically, and most shamefully, Speaker Chambule has ignored sincere and frank correspondence from the IFP about real issues affecting the lives of residents who are desperate for help from the municipal council. Chambule has displayed contempt for the council, the rules, the law and, worse still, contempt for the citizens of Umzinyathi,” added Mr Yengwa.
However, in a statement the Council rejected the comment ‘with the contempt it deserves, as it is baseless’.
“There is no record of formal submissions to the office of the Speaker of any complaints that he has failed to resolve. In Council meetings, like any other chairperson of a meeting, he chairs them well and maintains a smooth flow of ideas without suppression which eventually leads to sound, legal, and implementable resolutions.
“The utilisation of the R38 million for drought by the Municipality through AB Projects as a consultant can be accounted for. Hence, such allegations are rejected by the Municipality.”