The KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has welcomed the withdrawal of a joint court application by the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the National Freedom Party (NFP) that stood in the way of free and fair by-elections that will pave the way for a new council for the embattled Mtubatuba municipality.
The two political parties initiated a court application with a view of nullifying the drastic decision by the provincial executive to dissolve the Mtubatuba municipality following collapse of good governance.
KZN COGTA always knew that the IFP’s and NFP’s legal challenge had little chance of succeeding but nevertheless presented an unwelcome delaying tactic with negative consequences for the municipality where swift action to address outstanding service delivery issues is needed. The department is determined to facilitate Mtubatuba’s return to normality as soon as possible.
“This is a cause for celebration for the people of Mtubatuba who are waiting to elect a new council which will restore stability and order to their municipality. We are pleased that the two political parties which challenged the dissolution of this municipality have come to their senses and relented,” said KZN MEC for COGTA Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
"As KZN COGTA we recommended to the provincial government to dissolve the Mtubatuba municipality last month after multiple interventions by the department to address various contentious administrative and financial issues failed to yield positive results. The department’s hope was that a new council would help unlock development in the municipality.
“We did not take the decision to dissolve Mtubatuba lightly but we did it for the sake of the local residents who were the main victims of the prolonged political stalemate. It was regrettable that the IFP and the NFP took this matter to court and thereby created additional uncertainty and instability in the embattled municipality,” said Dube-Ncube.
KZN COGTA follows strict legal protocol in all municipalities where it intervenes or which it dissolves and in the case of Mtubatuba, the department’s takeover of the municipality’s executive functions was meant to be strictly temporary with a new council to replace the department’s administration within three months since the formal dissolution.
“This timetable was thrown into doubt by the legal challenge mounted by the IFP and the NFP and our concern was that the people of Mtubatuba would have to wait to elect a new council. This legal impediment has now been removed and the democratic process can now take place unhindered. We urge the residents to register to vote and take part in the upcoming by-elections,” said Dube-Ncube.
Enquiries:
Lennox Mabaso, KZN COGTA Spokesperson
Cell: 082 884 2403
Msawakhe Mayisela
Cell: 060 9664220
