Urgent financial analysis launched for Impendle Municipality after salary delays
A local municipality has left its workers in despair following its failure to disburse salaries and allowances to employees for the month of December.
Image: Towfiqu Barbhuiya
THE KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has stepped in to address a critical financial crisis at the Impendle Local Municipality following its failure to disburse salaries and allowances to employees for the month of December.
The MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has called the current situation unacceptable and sympathised with the affected workers.
"It is deeply regrettable that municipal employees and their families are facing such hardship during the festive season. It is unacceptable for workers to be left destitute due to administrative failures," said Buthelezi.
This latest salary crisis is not an isolated incident. The Impendle Local Municipality had previously encountered a similar financial debacle in May of this year.
Following the intervention of provincial authorities, a resolution was achieved, albeit temporarily. However, the recurrence of such administrative failures raises significant questions about the municipality's lack of financial stability and governance.
Buthelezi has instructed senior officials to conduct an urgent and comprehensive analysis of the municipality's financial position. Their objective is to ascertain the underlying factors contributing to this failure, with a clear mandate to restore functionality to the municipal administration.
Buthelezi's directive to the municipal leadership is that if salaries are not paid before 31 December 2025, he will not hesitate to take the necessary action to restore order and functionality to the Impendle Municipality.
"KZN CoGTA calls upon the leadership of Impendle Municipality to take full responsibility and act immediately to rectify this situation. The Council and management must prioritise the workforce and ensure that all outstanding salaries are paid without further delay," said the KZN Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in a statement.