ANC calls for removal of KZN Cogta MEC Buthelezi over R14.6m tanker row

Cogta MEC Rev Thulasizwe Buthelezi has defended CoGTA’s opposition to uMkhanyakude’s R14.6 million tanker purchase, saying the municipality should not incur debt and should instead reprioritise its budget.

The African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu-Natal has called for the removal of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi, accusing him of using his position to target ANC-led municipalities.

The call follows a growing dispute over uMkhanyakude District Municipality’s proposed R14.6 million purchase of five specialised water tankers through a 36-month instalment agreement.

Buthelezi has opposed the transaction, arguing that the municipality should not take on additional debt to acquire the vehicles when the provincial government has already deployed five water tankers to assist communities in the district.

Buthelezi described the proposed expenditure as financially irresponsible and said it had dispatched tankers to Jozini, Big Five Hlabisa, uMhlabuyalingana and Mtubatuba to help address water shortages.

The ANC, however, has defended the purchase, arguing that uMkhanyakude ’s decision to acquire a permanent fleet was lawful and would strengthen the municipality’s long-term ability to provide water.

ANC KZN provincial spokesperson Sifiso Sonjica accused Buthelezi of turning the Cogta portfolio into an instrument of political conflict and said the party viewed his tenure with “unreserved contempt”.

The ANC accused the MEC of “partisan sabotage, administrative tyranny, and brazen hypocrisy”, claiming that his actions were undermining service delivery in ANC-led municipalities.

The party said uMkhanyakude’s decision to acquire a permanent fleet of water tankers was made through the National Treasury Transversal System and would strengthen the municipality’s long-term capacity to provide water.

It contrasted this with the provincial government’s use of temporary water tankers in IFP-led municipalities, including Jozini, uMhlabuyalingana and Big Five Hlabisa.

The ANC also questioned the treatment of King Cetshwayo District Municipality, which it said had acquired water tankers, as well as uMzinyathi District Municipality, which is expected to issue a fleet procurement tender in September.

“Asset ownership cannot be lauded as prudent governance when executed by an IFP mayor, yet villainised when undertaken by an ANC administration,” Sonjica said.

The party said it believed the contrasting approaches showed that Buthelezi was applying different standards to municipalities depending on which party governed them.

The ANC also criticised Buthelezi over the secondment of Prince Nhlakanipho Zulu to uMdoni Local Municipality.