DA calls for new municipal leadership
He says it clearly highlights that this is an orchestrated attempt by the mm and ANC leadership to mislead council.
The DA chairperson in Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM), Leon Garbade, says despite KZN Cogta MEC Rev Thulasizwe Buthelezi’s stern instruction to resolve an ongoing workers’ strike, no solution has been found as yet.
The DA believes that RNM needs a complete turn-around and that it can only be accomplished by the removal of its leadership.
After a recent visit, Buthelezi gave the municipality until January 31 to turn matters around.
However, Garbade claims these instructions have not been heeded by the municipal leadership.
“The unprotected strike by members of the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) that has been ongoing for three months in the municipality continues depriving residents of vital service delivery. The labour unrest has brought services in the municipality to a grinding halt. A plan of action was put forward to the municipal manager, Khetha Zulu and ANC leadership, who have steadfastly ignored this and continued in a ‘closed door’ fashion and refused to keep council adequately informed and updated.”
Garbade says that the DA is in possession of communication from SAMWU outlining the failed status of negotiations between them, the ANC leadership and RNM.
He says it clearly highlights that this is an orchestrated attempt by the municipal leadership and ANC to mislead council.
“The DA once again calls for the immediate dismissal and replacement of the negotiating team. We recommend replacing the current team with an external one, one which also consists of members of the executive. The team must then provide daily reports to full council as to the status of negotiations.”
He added that this strike is a clear indication of the deteriorating state of local government under the current leadership, which has failed to address the legitimate concerns of workers and residents alike.
Furthermore, the DA calls for a comprehensive review of the municipality’s financial and administrative practices to ensure that it is equipped to provide essential services and meet the needs of its residents in the future.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
