The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional
Affairs (CoGTA) has appointed Dr. Cassius Lubisi, former
director-general in the presidency, and Michael Sutcliffe, former
municipal manager of Durban, to lead the Section 154
intervention aimed at addressing service delivery challenges in
the eThekwini Municipality.
The announcement was made last Thursday, 25 June by CoGTA
MEC, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi.
Sutcliffe and Lubisi, who own a consulting company, were
initially nominated in 2023 when the African National Congress
(ANC)-led local government announced plans to implement
Section 154 to intervene in the struggling municipality. However,
the intervention was blocked on the day it was supposed to be
introduced after ANC councillors complained that proper due
process had not been followed.
Section 154 refers to enlisting experts to assist the municipality
in areas where there are concerns. If eThekwini does not
change its direction, it may face consequences, such as being
placed under administration as per Section 139, which states
that if a municipality fails to fulfil its executive obligations as per
the Constitution, the provincial executive may intervene by
taking appropriate steps to ensure compliance. These steps can
include dissolving the entire municipal council and appointing an
administrator, but only if exceptional circumstances justify such
action.
The municipality has been faced with many administration
failures, ranging from fraud allegations to a series of questions
around service delivery, corruption and fraud cases, among
other issues. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in eThekwini has
welcomed the long-overdue announcement of a Section 154
intervention.
DA eThekwini caucus leader, Thabani Mthethwa said:
“EThekwini has been on a constant downward spiral, which
includes sporadic services, out-of-control debt, water supply,
and sewage issues that have come at the expense of frustrated
citizens and ratepayers.
The announced Section 154 intervention means going forward,
the provincial government will have a say as well as provide
assistance in the running of the once prestigious eThekwini
Municipality,” said Mthethwa.
He emphasised that the DA still believes that a Section 139
intervention is required considering the extent to which
eThekwini has broken down. adding that the party was
optimistic that under the leadership of Sutcliffe and Dr. Lubisi,
eThekwini will be on the path to recovery.
“The intervention marks a promising start by the government of
provincial unity, with the DA playing a pivotal role,” Mthethwa
concluded.
