During the council meeting held on Wednesday, March 30, the Deputy Mayor came under fire from the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).
IFP members passed a vote of no confidence on Deputy Mayor of Umtshezi Municipality Bhekithemba Abel Dlamini.

The motion was raised by Councillor Vilakazi and seconded by Councillor Mchunu who was not present when the Speaker Mr Nunes announced the item to council. “We no longer trust him to serve in this position,” was what was stated in the written motion.

The party was asked by the Speaker to further substantiate, but said they saw no reason to prove themselves. After a number of requests made to validate this motion, Councillor Majola said that Councillor BA Dlamini’s name was behind a ‘scam within Imbabazane Municipality.’

“Some of the reasons which allowed for Mr BA Dlamini’s removal from office previously, form part of this vote of no confidence,” substantiated Councillor Majola. The allegations made by the party were viewed in a serious light by the speaker.

Towards the end of 2013, the decision to remove Mr BA Dlamini from office was taken. A month later, February 7, 2014 Umtshezi Municipality Deputy Mayor Mr BA Dlamini was reinstated as Umtshezi’s Deputy Mayor after nominations and a vote.

According to the standing rules and orders of council, councillors had to vote for or against the motion with either a ‘yay’ or ‘nay’, Councillor Majola was not happy with the method of voting and advised a secret ballot. Unable to reach a consensus, the Mayor requested a vote by the show of hands.

With 11 against the motion and three for the motion, Mr BA Dlamini remains Umtshezi’s Deputy Mayor. In response to the allegations made against Mr BA Dlamini, he said that it was the first time he was made aware of being part of a ‘scam.’

The Mayor, Councillor Bongani Dlamini said in closing that, nearing the Local Government Elections (LGE) that powers should not be tested and further advised that points should not be scored in this manner.