A KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) traditional leader managed to cling onto his mayoral job in the district of uThukela after angry opposition parties tried to remove him.
Inkosi Ntandoyenkosi Shabalala, the IFP mayor from the KZN midlands, was supposed to face a vote of no confidence after he was accused of turning the municipality into his personal “traditional council”.
They say he “behaves as if he is the chief of this municipality whereas he is only here as a mayor”. Shabalala is also a chief of the Shabalala traditional council in Ladysmith.
The no-confidence motion was filed last week Tuesday and was understood by those voting to be taking place on Wednesday, but it was never scheduled by the speaker.
Councillor Nathi Mthethwa of the National People’s Ambassadors said that they want Shabalala out because he has failed to answer on why the district has been unable to distribute water to their doubt-stricken community.
But it was Shabalala’s supposed “nepotism” that really infuriated the opposition.
“He has also turned this municipality into his own traditional council. Under his leadership we saw a lot of his relatives being hired from different posts including from cleaners and as bodyguards,” said Mthethwa.
Mthethwa said since their motion to remove Shabalala is being delayed, they want the municipal manager to intervene and be the one who called the council sitting.
uThukela district municipality communications manager Nothile Zwane said that they are surprised that this issue keeps coming back because those who raised it before failed to provide tangible evidence of nepotism.
“We are not even aware that there’s a vote of no confidence that has been submitted against the Mayor,” said Zwane.
Picture above: KZN traditional leader Inkosi Ntandoyenkosi Shabalala of the Shabalala clan in Ladysmith accused of turning the municipality into his own family fiefdom.
Image source : uThukela District
