Root Cause of Municipal Dysfunction Is ANC Cadre Deployment

Given the history of failure by the KZN provincial government to rectify the shambles that pass for governance in Msunduzi Municipality (Pietermaritzburg), it is surprising that DA MPL Tammy Colley welcomes yet another provincial intervention in the capital’s city hall (POST, August 27-31).

For three periods between 2010 and 2024, Msunduzi Municipality has been under Section 139 provincial administration because of its inability to meet minimum service delivery standards.

Yet despite the hand of provincial administration, the fundamental issues of failure remained as glaring as ever. When the application of section 139 ceased on April 30, 2024, it was found that debt had increased to R6 billion, unauthorized expenditure continued in cavalier fashion, proper records were not being maintained, and disciplinary measures were not being taken against errant councillors.

A report by the Public Servants Association dated April 9 this year noted that for the financial period of 2023-2024, R900 million of “irregular, wasteful, fruitless expenditure” was incurred. Rightly, the PSA castigated Msunduzi for corruption and maladministration. But a more appropriate indictment would be that of delinquent administration.

The back and forth section 139 attempts to rectify the fundamentals of municipal government in Msunduzi have failed and will continue to fail because they do not address what is the root cause of countrywide municipal dysfunction, namely, ANC cadre and comrade deployment.

What is needed is the political will to emulate the Trump Administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). In six months, it has already eliminated over $300 billion in wasteful expenditure and cut government employee bloat by tens of thousands.

As Metro Manager during the initial years of eThekwini Municipality, Dr Mike Sutcliffe was an effective administrator, so his appointment to remedy the ills of Msunduzi has merit. However, as a stalwart ANC member, it is extremely doubtful that he will be able to dismantle the labour union-embedded cadre grip that ensures Msunduzi’s maladministration.