Court rules uMkhanyakude appointment unlawful
High Court rules that the decision, which overlooked the then-acting uMkhanyakude MM Dr Siyabonga Ntuli, was unlawful
The appointment of Dr Joshua Sibeko as the uMkhanyakude District Municipal Manager has been set aside.
On Tuesday, the Pietermaritzburg High Court ruled that the Council decision in April – which overlooked then acting municipal manager, Dr Siyabonga Ntuli – was unlawful.
The municipality has been given 60 days to correct its decision.
Further to this, the court set aside the appointment of the CFO in April.
uMkhanyakude District Municipality Mayor, Siphile Mdaka, said they need time to study the judgment before commenting.
Responding to the verdict
Ntuli, who challenged his suspension and the appointment of the CFO, and MM (Sibeko) welcomed the court ruling, which included ordering the municipality to pay costs.
“I think the court vindicated me on what I was saying about these appointments. Even the Cogta MEC did not approve their resolution, but they decided to go ahead.
“What we are fighting for is, that in the sphere of local government, only competent people with the required skills should be hired, particularly in uMkhanyakude.”
He said during his tenure, a plan was put in place to get water services to the residents, but this was interrupted.
“Now people are suffering because they want to bring people who are not qualified and competent to do the work.
“I can’t just stand and watch as I am also a resident of uMkhanyakude. We are going to fight until our municipality hires qualified people who are competent.”
He noted the unauthorised, irregular, and fruitless expenditure as another major challenge within the municipality.
“A major contributing factor is that almost 80 of service providers were appointed irregularly, and if you deal with that, you are removed.
“We conducted an investigation, but the fining and recommendations were never implemented.”
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