DA gives ANC deadline over uMngeni council chaos

If anybody thought it would be an easy process for a new DA government to take control of a municipality the party won freely at the local government elections, well they were very wrong. The DA may have won the uMngeni municipality. But it seems the outgoing and even suspended ANC officials are not allowing for a proper handover. Now, the DA has given them a deadline.

uMngeni chaos: Pappas made to wait

After having been sworn in at the Magistrate’s Court due to the suspended municipal manager insisting on running proceedings, the DA says enough is enough.

The party says that it has sent a letter to the correct acting municipal manager, Sandile Buthelezi, giving him until Monday to reconvene the first council meeting.

“Should Mr. Buthelezi fail to do so, the DA will approach the Pietermaritzburg High Court on an urgent basis to compel him to call the council meeting.

We have also made it explicitly clear that the DA will seek a personal costs order against Buthelezi should we end in court.”

DA KZN Chair Dean Macpherson

When will Christopher Pappas be sworn in as mayor?

The party insists that Thembeka Cibane was in violation of her suspension terms by attempting to run the meeting. Cibane insists that her suspension lapsed at the start of November.

Also Read – Chris Pappas: uMngeni’s first DA mayor explains his isiZulu fluency [watch]

The DA hold a majority in council, after the party achieved 13 seats to the ANC’s 10

If a new council meeting is called next week as per the DA’s demands, the party’s Chris Papas will be sworn in as mayor of uMngeni. Papas is just 30 years old. His incoming Deputy Mayor, Sandile Mnikathi, is even younger at 26.

This is the first time the DA has ever won a municipality in KZN.