The Speaker of Phongolo Municipality, Mrs. Celiwe Nxumalo-Sibiya, has been sacked, not even a week after she was elected.
Mrs Nxumalo-Sibiya was demoted by the decision of the High Court in Pietermaritzburg stating that the meeting she was appointed to was illegal. The court’s decision came out last week.
Mrs Nxumalo-Sibiya, an ANC councillor, was appointed at a meeting held two weeks ago.
His appointment surprised many because the IFP is in charge of the council as it has 14 of the 29 councilors in the council.
The IFP votes with the DA which has one councilor in this council.
Mrs. Nxumalo-Sibiya was elected by elethu because eight IFP councilors did not come to the meeting due to allegations that they did not agree with the name of the IFP leadership that wanted her to be elected.
The leadership of the IFP instructed the councilors of the party to choose Mr. Ndukisebandla Mavuso, to be the speaker of the council.
The position was previously held by Mr. Kwenzakakufani Nxumalo, who was ordered by the IFP leadership to resign.
The spokesperson for the Department of Co-operative Governance and Indigenous Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal, Mr. Senzelwe Mzila, said that Judge Nontuthuzelo Mlaba overruled all the decisions taken at the meeting in which Mrs. Nxumalo-Sibiya was appointed as speaker.
“The court ordered the Minister (Rev. Thulasizwe Buthelezi) to organize a meeting in which the speaker will be appointed so that the work of the council will not be disturbed.”
The court also overruled the decisions taken at the council meeting held on April 7 and April 28.
Mzila said these meetings were held without following the rules governing council meetings.
The court also decided that the manager of the council facing allegations of corruption, Mr. Mntonjani Bethuel Khali, should not leave the council’s offices.
Mzila said the court ordered Khali not to continue pretending to be the council manager or to give instructions to the council staff.
Khali was suspended after allegations of corruption but was reinstated.
Mzila said that the official of the department who was appointed to act as municipal manager in March, Mr. Khulekani Ngcobo, will continue to hold the position.
Mzila said the court’s decision will ensure that the law is followed in Phongolo Municipality.