The African National Congress (ANC) in KwaZulu‑Natal has called for the removal of provincial Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi after a public dispute over the uMkhanyakude District Municipality’s proposed purchase of five specialised water tankers.
What sparked the dispute
The immediate dispute began when MEC Buthelezi criticised the district municipality’s plan to acquire five specialised water tankers for a total of R14.6 million, to be paid in instalments over a 36‑month period. In a statement, the MEC described the planned purchase as financially irresponsible and said the provincial department had already supplied water tankers to local municipalities under the district.
The ANC in the province, however, contends the district acted within its rights and accused the MEC of using his office to undermine ANC‑led municipalities.
“We are dealing with an MEC who is hellbent on using his position as a partisan tool to fight the ANC. This is enough now. We have called on the Premier to remove Reverend Buthelezi from Cogta. We don’t care where he takes him, but Cogta is a very important department that must see our people out of their misery and poverty. Water is essential. So, uMkhanyakude is doing the right thing and they must defy him.”
The quote above was provided by the ANC’s provincial spokesperson, Sifiso Sonjica, as part of the party’s response.
Political and service‑delivery dimensions
The clash links political tensions with practical questions about how municipalities secure essential equipment. Water tankers are often procured by district and local municipalities to supply communities during shortages, droughts or where bulk infrastructure is lacking. The ANC’s public call for the MEC’s removal frames the disagreement as more than an administrative dispute: it is being presented as partisan interference that could affect access to water.
- ANC position: The party says the municipality did nothing wrong and accuses the MEC of political grandstanding.
- MEC position: Buthelezi called the planned purchase financially irresponsible and highlighted existing provincial support.
- Immediate demand: The ANC has urged the Premier to remove Buthelezi from the Cogta portfolio.
Purchase details
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of tankers | 5 |
| Total cost | R14.6 million |
| Payment period | 36 months |
Neither the ANC statement nor the MEC’s public remarks provided further procurement documentation, such as tender details or a breakdown of unit costs. The Premier’s office has not released a response to the ANC’s removal request in the material supplied to the media.
What this means for residents
For communities in uMkhanyakude and surrounding areas, the dispute may raise questions about the speed and reliability of responses to water shortages. If the disagreement leads to delays or to the cancellation of procurement, residents who rely on municipal water‑supply interventions could be affected.
Stakeholders — including opposition parties, civil‑society groups and ratepayer associations — may press for transparency on both the provincial department’s existing tanker allocations and the district’s procurement process. Public interest is likely to focus on whether the planned expenditure was necessary and compliant with procurement rules, and on the timeline for delivery if the purchase proceeds.
Next steps
The ANC’s call formally requests action from the Premier to remove the MEC from the Cogta portfolio. Any personnel decision rests with the Premier and will be guided by internal party and provincial government processes. At present there is no public record in the supplied material of a response from the Premier or of any formal disciplinary processes against the MEC.
The dispute highlights the tensions that can arise when provincial oversight intersects with local service‑delivery decisions. For now, residents and municipal officials will be watching for further statements from the Premier’s office, the Cogta department and the uMkhanyakude District Municipality, and for confirmation about whether the tankers will be purchased and deployed.
Reporting from KwaZulu‑Natal. Local officials and the Premier’s office were not quoted beyond the material provided in the ANC and MEC statements.
