High Court rules in favour of acting municipal manager at Umdoni Local Municipality
For now, DD Naidoo remains and service delivery is stable.
Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) in KZN has noted a recent High Court ruling regarding Umdoni Local Municipality’s acting municipal manager position.
This refers to instability at Umdoni a month ago, after DD Naidoo was unlawfully removed as acting municipal manager on August 5 and later reinstated on August 20.
During this period of instability, municipal workers and many local ratepayers called for his reinstatement, saying they believed Naidoo was making positive contributions at the municipality, while others (politically affiliated) opposed it.
The controversial reinstatement has since grabbed the attention of many individuals and departments – one being MEC for Cogta Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, who filed an application against it with the High Court.
Marlaine Nair, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Cogta, said the court struck the application from the roll.
Nair explained that the presiding judge ruled that the MEC’s founding affidavit was “inadmissible” and determined that the criteria for urgent legal intervention had not been met.
“Crucially, this judgment does not provide a final resolution to the ongoing dispute regarding the administrative leadership of Umdoni Municipality,” said Nair in response to the ruling.
“From an oversight standpoint, the persistent instability is troubling. A municipality cannot operate effectively while there is continued uncertainty surrounding one of its most senior administrative roles, and as long as disputes over its leadership remain a recurring matter for the courts.”
She also mentioned that residents of Umdoni required certainty, lawful decision-making and stable administrative leadership. She added that political and administrative disagreements cannot be allowed to undermine the functioning of the municipality or the delivery of services.
“The Cogta Portfolio Committee will continue to monitor developments at Umdoni and the steps being taken to restore stability and proper governance. The focus must remain on a municipality that is properly governed and able to deliver services to its residents.”
DD Naidoo remains Umdoni’s acting municipal manager, and service delivery remains stable.
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