DURBAN - MADODA Khathide, the Msunduzi municipal manager, read the municipality’s new councillors the riot act this week, warning them about absenteeism and leaving council meetings early to honour other appointments, saying such behaviour devalued the worth of council work in the eyes of the public.
Speaking during the first council meeting for the city’s new administration on Wednesday, Khathide said it was embarrassing to have to announce during a council meeting in front of members of the public that a councillor wanted to leave a meeting early because they had a doctor’s appointment.
He was briefing the “new” council on matters governing their conduct.
“All the structures of council must meet. One of the reasons we went under administration was the collapse of these structures. If we ensure that we meet, we can make sure that we come out of administration,” he said.
He said the previous council was diligent in making sure they met and commended them for their attendance. “The only thing that I observed was the ins and outs of these meetings. A councillor would send an apology that he wants to go and see the doctor while the council is going on. It’s so embarrassing to have to announce this,” he said.
He implied such behaviour indicated councillors did not take their duties seriously.
“These council meetings are held once, just once a month. You can’t tell me you have an apology. It’s so embarrassing. That is my observation with the previous term of councillors. And I kept quiet, but I am taking this opportunity to say, let’s try to honour this and be very upfront,” he said.
He said it was important that councillors remembered they were employed to do council work, and as such, they were expected to perform.
He reminded them it was possible to fire them if they showed dereliction of duty. “As a councillor, you cannot be absent from the council meeting for more than three consecutive meetings without explanation.
“The Speaker has a right to dock your pay or recommend to the MEC that you be fired,” said Khathide.
He further warned councillors not to miss committee meetings and to ensure that the meetings were held.
He said these two issues also counted against the municipality whenever it was being assessed on whether it was ready to come out of administration. The municipality has been under administration for almost two years.
He said the council had to find creative ways to ensure that it carried out its mandate for community participation events in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
DA councillor Bongumusa Nhlabathi said it was not just the councillors that needed to shape up. The council staff members did too.
He cited a recent example whereby the officials had failed to do their jobs.
He said when councillors asked for physical copies of the council agenda document, they were told only 40 printed copies had been prepared for the ANC because they were having a caucus meeting.
He said such behaviour on the part of the officials was not acceptable as all councillors have equal standing.
Speaker Eunice Majola said the matter of the agendas would be addressed.
THE MERCURY