Opening with a silent prayer and a cover of the national anthem, council meeting got underway. Councillors, municipal management, as well as members of the public gathered at the Umtshezi Municipality council chamber to attend the meeting held on Wednesday, March 30.
One of the statements made by the Speaker Cesar Nunes was a request for council to decide on a date and time for Imbabazane and Umtshezi municipalities to meet before the two municipalities merge as KZN237. Two presentations were then delivered to council. One was presented from a representative from Statistics South Africa and the other by an inDuna from Mshayazafe. During the verbal motion or notice to council where councillors are allowed to raise points not contained on the agenda, councillors took the opportunity to either raise concerns or give compliments where they are due.
Matters raised by Councillor Magubane was the snail’s pace at which potholes are being patched, the long grass at the Wembezi old cemetery and Rolland Hellet Road. He also requested that water be made available at the cemetery and that the municipality look into homes owned by Masonite as residents report they are now becoming a dwelling place for criminals.
Councillor Lite was next to verbalise her motions to council. “The town is not clean, waste is not being collected,” she said with disappointment. She advised the municipality to monitor the area near the town Mosque as dirt is collecting at that point. Among her notices was one regarding the tampering of electricity, thereafter she appealed to all political parties to steer away from “dirty politics”
“You may never know after the Local Government Elections we may be grouped together again; how we will then face one another after accusing each other falsely. I have been accused of being responsible for selling municipal owned land in Papkuilsfontein,” said the councillor. Councillor Majola took his opportunity to question why an employee allegedly responsible for the theft of petroleum at the municipal stores has not faced any disciplinary action.
He also touched on the land being sold in Papkuilsfontein, which he believes is carried out by a councillor. This led to a quarrel between Councillor Lite and Councillor Majola. To conclude the verbal motions was the Mayor, Councillor Bongani Dlamini.
Among the number of points raised, he requested councillors not to score cheap political points during the time leading to Local Government Elections. As the meeting proceeded, it was not on a smooth note. While discussing a way forward pertaining to land invasion, Speaker Cesar Nunes felt that Councillor Majola was being disobedient and requested he leave the meeting.
“I will not leave, I will speak and I was not elected by you,” said Councillor Majola loudly. Speaker Cesar Nunes mentioned that for the duration of the meeting he will not take any of Mr Majola’s points into regard and he will no longer be noticed. After an awkward silence, the meeting continued. There were incidents where councillors were called to order for inappropriate utterances. Analysis of the annual report was one of the items noted by council, while strategies were adopted and other items for consideration on the agenda, were tabled, moved with recommendations or agreed on.
