Abaqulusi municipality in Vryheid was dissolved on Thursday and its 15 Inkatha Freedom Party councillors fired — a move the IFP said it will fight in court.
The party condemns the dissolution by KwaZulu-Natal local government minister Mike Mabuyakhulu and the axing of its councillors, IFP spokesperson Musa Zondi said.
Mabuyakhulu earlier announced the dissolution of the municipality, citing its ”chaotic state”.
Zondi dismissed claims that the municipality was not running smoothly because IFP councillors were fighting among themselves.
”We are not shocked that Mabuyakhulu has given credence to rumours of political in-fighting in the municipality.
”The municipality is not operating chaotically as Mabuyakhulu claims. We further contest claims by him that the councillors failed to pitch at three council meetings,” Zondi said.
He said the party has no option but to go to the courts.
”We cannot allow Mabuyakhulu to abuse his position and advance the naked political interests of the ANC [African National Congress],” said Zondi.
This came after Mabuyakhulu said on Thursday he had tried to remedy the situation at the municipality.
Mabuyakhulu’s spokesperson Lennox Mabaso said the councillors were fired for failing to attend three council meetings.
”Service delivery was being compromised. There was utter chaos in this municipality. It was not serving the people,” Mabaso said.
But Zondi disputed this.
He said in one of the three instances that Mabuyakhulu mentioned, the councillors had attended the meeting but walked out when it was time to vote.
Earlier this year, Mabuyakhulu had appointed a manager to oversee the budget of the municipality.
”Nothing went right even after that appointment. Instead, the situation worsened,” he said.
The provincial minister is expected to appoint an administrator until a new council is elected.
Earlier, Mabuyakhulu conducted a probe into 17 municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal. Evidence of fraud, corruption and maladministration were found at three — Uthukela, Nongoma and Umvoti.
On Thursday, Mabuyakhulu gave the three municipalities a final 10-day ultimatum to act on those involved. — Sapa