UMkhanyakude draft budget ‘being fixed’

UMKHANYAKUDE District Mayor Siphile Mdaka said his administration is hard at work since returning to office, and these efforts include 'fixing' the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) draft budget put together during the brief leadership of his recent predecessor Tim Moodley.

There has been much to'ing and fro'ing of power at the district municipality, much of which is still in court.

Mdaka said the draft budget of R622 718 000, which Moodley presented to residents during the municipality’s IDP draft budget roadshows, was not up to scratch and does not meet the standards of National Treasury.

Mdaka said his administration was also working to resuscitate operations they had set in motion, including the maintenance of water infrastructure, before their removal from office.

He added that work was also being done to ‘align’ the assistance Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu will provide to uMkhanyakude following the Section 63 Water Services Act intervention by the national department.

Mdaka conceded that the recent ‘political instability' had hampered service delivery and added that the IFP could have handled the matter better.

IFP chairperson in uMkhanyakude District, Mfananaye Mathe said his party intends to write a petition calling for a council meeting where a vote of no confidence in Mdaka, his deputy and Mkhombo would be tabled.

Mathe, however, said this has been put on hold following last week’s fatal shooting of the municipality’s EFF councillor Mxolisi Buthelezi, to allow for a grieving period, in particular, for the late councillor’s family.