Celani Sikhakhane
It’s pretty difficult to play the part of the dignified mayor of one of the biggest municipalities in KZN – if you arrive at mayoral functions in an aging 2012 Toyota bakkie.
This is the complaint from Mayor Moodley of the uMkhanyakude District Municipality in KZN.
It took a lot of persuasion to convince former mayor Solomon Mkhombo to give up his seat as the mayor, but it appears that he is not yet ready to give up the car.
Mkhombo was unseated in a vote of no confidence and the IFP’s Tim Moodley was voted in in April. But a few days later, though, Mkhombo walked back into the office claiming he was the legitimate mayor, and the fight has raged since.
He was persuaded to vacate the offices making way for Moodley. But he allegedly never returned the mayoral car – which is why Moodley has to arrive for official functions in his bakkie.
“The former mayor does not want to bring back the municipal vehicle which can make my job easier. It is very difficult to perform my duties in this situation,” said Moodley.
But Mkhombo told Scrolla.Africa Moodley is a liar.
“How can I keep the mayoral vehicle when I’m not the mayor? Moodley needs to be honest and stop dragging my name through the mud. The car I used was a hired car which I took back to the rental company,” said Mkhombo.
“Moodley and his managers should stop playing politics and buy a new car. But they know they spent the money and they can’t buy a car.”
uMkhanyakude is under administrator due to the leadership crisis.
Last month it was reported that the municipality didn’t pay the salaries of its workers due to the maladministration.
Attempts to speak to the municipal spokesperson proved fruitless as his phone rang unanswered.
