Call for urgent intervention amid Msunduzi Municipality's ‘financial crisis’
The DA has called for intervention in the Msunduzi Municipality.
Image: Doctor Ngcobo / Independent Newspapers
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Msunduzi Municipality has written to the national and provincial Treasuries requesting an intervention in the municipality in Pietermaritzburg.
In a statement, party leader in the municipality, Ross Strachan, said: "We are calling for the National Treasury to assume full control of the city’s financial affairs and to implement a financial recovery plan."
He said this request follows the complete collapse of the municipality, both financially and physically, with basic service delivery failing, infrastructure deteriorating, and no signs of leadership recovery. The key issues include:
- R2 billion and counting in debt
- Failure to spend R15 million in grants, putting the municipality at risk of losing these grants
- R10 million taken from the water department and redirected to the building of community halls
- 60% water losses (R70 million per annum)
Strachan stated that the political instability and ongoing dysfunction in the council have made it clear that the current leadership is incapable of restoring governance or accountability.
“While we acknowledge the appointment of the new municipal manager, Felani Mndebele, we have serious reservations about whether the selected candidate has the capability, independence, and integrity to turn this municipality around. Msunduzi requires strong, experienced, and apolitical leadership—someone with a proven track record in financial recovery, ethical governance, and service delivery,” he said.
“This position is critical to the effective functioning of the city’s administration, especially given the ongoing collapse of basic service delivery, financial mismanagement, and the general decay of governance structures,” he stated
Strachan added that the people of Msunduzi deserve dignity, safety, and functioning services. We will not sit back and watch this city deteriorate further. We demand urgent and decisive action in the public interest,” he said.
The municipality has been approached for comment.