Utrecht’s municipality under new rule

For a number of years, Utrecht residents and local forums have complained about the poor and sometimes nonexistent service delivery in the town. Read more

January 25, 2017

Bruce Douglas 1 minute read

Struggles within the eMadlangeni Municipality have led Cogta KZN to step in.

UTRECHT – As of this week, the eMadlangeni Municipality is under administration.

Staff within the municipality confirmed this was true, which aligns with reports of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) in KwaZulu-Natal appointing an administrator to serve as Mayor and Municipal Manager.

However, these powers are strictly executive and administrative in nature.

Read: Roughing it at Utrecht Balele Caravan Park

The Citizen reported that in a press conference at the weekend, Cogta KZN MEC, Nomusa Dube-Ncube said placing eMadlangeni Municipality under administration was a decision made by the provincial executive.

The decision was based on ‘poor governance and administrative collapse’.

For a number of years, Utrecht residents and local forums have complained about the poor and sometimes nonexistent service delivery in the town.

The tip of the proverbial iceberg was the suspension of MM, Gugu Ntshangase last year.

Mrs Dube-Ncube was reported by the Citizen as saying the department was not satisfied with the performance of eMadlangeni Municipality.

Thus, Cotga’s intervention was in the best interests of the community.

While under administration, eMadlangeni Municipality will attempt to fast-track service delivery and ensure those who mismanaged its affairs were brought to book.