District implements vital cost cutting measures

uMkhanyakude District Municipality has implemented cost containment measures, which were set to get under way from 1 February.

In a letter to the municipality’s heads of department, Samwu (SA Municipal Workers’ Union) and Imatu (Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union) representatives from the municipal manager (MM) WM Nxumalo, dated 29 January, it is said the cost containment measures will affect all employees.

These measures include that overtime payments are to be approved by the MM and administrator; that subsistence and travel claims are to be limited to a maximum of 1 300km per month per employee, with all approved by the MM and administrator; accommodation bookings are not permitted unless approved by the MM and administrator; and that no employee may be permitted to work standby for more than two weeks per month.

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These measures, the MM explained in the letter, have been put in place due to budgetary constraints.

Meanwhile, Mayor Siphile Mdaka said the KZN Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) has appointed a new administrator at the municipality, Dr Sibeko, as the department and the municipality continue to work to resolve the ‘issue of Nondabuya’, addressing challenges.

This after Cogta MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi in November announced he would intervene to resolve water challenges in the district and investigate the R151-million Nondabuya Water Scheme project.

In terms of other water projects, Mdaka said, during his term, which he assured he would serve in full, significant progress has been made on water projects throughout the district, with a full report on these expected by the end of the month.

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