Michael Sutcliffe takes charge of uMsunduzi Municipality's turnaround efforts

Dr Michael Sutcliffe has been appointed as the governance expert to support the uMsunduzi Local Municipality on Tuesday. 

His immediate task is the implementation of a turnaround plan, with a specific and urgent focus on restoring service delivery, strengthening good governance, restoring investor confidence, and ensuring sound financial management, explained KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi.

This appointment, made in terms of Section 154 of the Constitution, is a crucial step towards implementing a comprehensive turnaround strategy for the municipality, added Buthelezi. 

Dr Sutcliffe was formally introduced as the new appointee during a meeting between the Buthelezi and the Msunduzi Executive Committee. 

“With extensive experience in local government, Dr Sutcliffe previously served for over nine years as the eThekwini municipal manager and has also worked as a local government expert, supporting municipalities across the province,” Buthelezi stated. 

Sutcliffe’s appointment comes after a sustained outcry over deteriorating municipal infrastructure and a sharp decline in business confidence in the Pietermaritzburg CBD. 

“Dr Sutcliffe has successfully completed a major service-delivery turnaround in eThekwini Municipality over the past 12 months. It is the collective responsibility of all councillors to support Dr Sutcliffe in his critical role,” Buthelezi said. 

He said that this support is essential to benefit the broader uMsunduzi community and all ratepayers. Buthelezi also called upon the councillors to uphold the highest standards of transparency and accountability to the residents they serve.

“Councillors will give their full support for what they view as a timely and necessary intervention. They believe this move will significantly strengthen the municipality's ability to tackle its current challenges,” he said. 

Buthelezi was accompanied by the Acting Head of Department, Dr Joey Krishnan.

This appointment demonstrates CoGTA’s commitment to placing the uMsunduzi Municipality on a sustainable path to recovery and effective service delivery.

Marlaine Nair, CoGTA Portfolio Committee chairperson, welcomed the appointment because Msunduzi, she said, has been in desperate need of intervention. Nair also welcomed the progress being made by KZN Premier Thami Ntuli's Msunduzi Working Group (PMWG).

“We look forward to the forthcoming diagnostic report and turnaround plan. This will be key to charting a sustainable path forward for the municipality and restoring service delivery for residents,” she said. 

Five months ago, former KZN Finance MEC Ravi Pillay was appointed by Ntuli to co-lead the PMWG to help with a strategy to turn around the municipality’s collapsing service delivery and financial control systems. 

In other municipal developments, Felani Mndebele was appointed the new municipality manager on August 1. 

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za