Thandelwethu Manda has been seconded by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) as a specialist administrator in a bid to address the crisis-hit Endumeni Municipality.

His appointment was announced this morning at a meeting at the municipality.

Manda’s appointment is for three months and Cogta wants him to complete weekly reports on progress made at Endumeni. Cogta will also liaise with Speaker Andile Nsibande to ensure reports are given to all Councillors.

This is Manda’s second stint at Endumeni. He previously served at the municipality for about three months following the death of municipal manager Martin Sithole.

Manda returns to a municipality that has been unable to pass a budget since July 1, whose internet service was cut off over non-payment and whose failure to pay Eskom has left the Talana Museum complex without power for more than a week.

Manda will be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the municipality and will play a key role in ensuring that council decisions and municipal policies are properly implemented.

His responsibilities include strengthening administrative systems, improving financial controls, ensuring compliance with legislation and supporting efforts to improve the municipality’s financial position.

Manda has previously served in senior administrative and municipal roles at several KwaZulu-Natal municipalities, including AbaQulusi Local Municipality, Jozini Local Municipality and Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality.

Focus on restoring stability

His experience includes municipal administration and dealing with the complex operational and governance requirements facing local government.

Manda’s secondment also places him at the centre of efforts to address outstanding administrative matters and strengthen the relationship between the municipality’s political leadership and its administration.

Councillors used the meeting to voice their concerns over administrative and financial failures and what they referred to as a ‘negative approach by some when it comes to the running of the institution’.

Mayor Mcebo Mkhize called on Councillors to ‘work together’ and look ‘at the way forward ‘, and he called on department heads to work hard to ‘get things right and give the community rights

FC Bester of the Endumeni Residents Association told the Courier he ‘is glad that something has been finally done to take us out of this mess’.

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