UPDATE: Ugu Municipal Manager DD Naidoo returns to office
The news has been met with mixed reaction.
Ugu Municipal Manager DD Naidoo has returned from a period of special leave, and it appears not everyone is happy that he is back in the hot seat. The municipality announced that Mr Naidoo would resume his duties from Monday this week after being placed on special leave by council in March. This saw the appointment of interim municipal manager, Sbu Sithole, who is known to be called in to help struggling municipalities.
ALSO READ: Ugu’s municipal manager DD Naidoo returns from special leave
At the time, Ugu had been faced with ongoing pipe breaks, water shutdowns, and a volatile labour situation with vehicles being set alight and infrastructure destroyed. Some 121 employees from Umdoni, Port Shepstone and Harding were released from their duties, allegedly for failing to report for duty. Mr Sithole has held the fort since, and municipal spokesman France Zama confirmed he would continue at the municipality as a technical advisor until further notice.
While some – including Ugu Mayor Sizwe Ngcobo – have given Mr Naidoo a warm welcome, those who are unhappy with his return have taken to social media to air their views.
Andrew Smith from Port Edward asked if this meant more water issues could be expected. “Under his leadership, we have had severe water cuts and continuous water problems. Why did council agree to bring him back? Do they even care about their communities?” Mr Smith said Port Edward was one of many places that had suffered water shortages which had caused people to lose their income.
Londiwe Cele from Uvongo said she welcomed Mr Naidoo’s return, saying, “Let him be paid for working, and not for sitting at home.”
South African Municipal Workers’ Union chairman, Mthandeni Ngcobo said they were ‘dismayed’ by the decision.”We don’t welcome him back. In fact this an affront to people.” Mr Ngcobo added that the union failed to understand why council would undermine the ongoing Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs investigation into Ugu District Municipality in this fashion.
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