Dolphin Coast, KZN – 2 March 2026 – On Thursday, 26 February 2026, after much speculation, it was confirmed that the Municipal Manager of KwaDukuza Municipality (KDM) has been placed on precautionary suspension. This precautionary suspension follows the acceptance by Council of the COGTA Section 106 investigation report at the end of last year, which probed the conduct of the Municipal Manager and several other senior officials and councillors in the performance of their duties. Due to this suspension, Council have appointed Executive Director Siya Khanyile as the acting Municipal Manager. We wish to congratulate him on his appointment and offer our support as he confronts the grave challenges our municipality is facing.
It is our sincere hope that these events mark the beginning of a culture shift towards accountability, but it’s important to note that this did not happen by accident. The COGTA Section 106 investigation was directly instigated by the Dolphin Coast Residents & Ratepayers Association (DOCRRA) and our KwaDukuza Organised Residents Alliance (KORA) allies, who met with senior COGTA officials in early February 2025 to hand over evidence, and make the case for urgent intervention and municipal oversight. We continued to cooperate and make evidence available during the investigation, and we are grateful they have taken their oversight role seriously to address the concerns of our community. Councillors from across the political spectrum have stood together to accept the report, form an action plan and begin executing that plan, demonstrating that they can work together despite their differences.
Whilst we are encouraged by Council’s decision to suspend officials who are allegedly implicated in the Section 106 report to allow any further investigation and disciplinary proceedings to unfold without interference, this is just a first step. The alleged contents of the report indicate that maladministration and corruption have become widespread, which will require a firm and unwavering effort to dismantle. KDM leadership are obliged to act on allegations of misconduct; enforcement of consequence management policies and procedures is NOT optional, nor can it be arbitrary. We are ready to collaborate and support efforts to restore clean government, and we will not waver in our vigilance to protect the interests of KwaDukuza residents.
ENDS
Stephanie Walker, Executive Officer, DOCRRA
064 737 2269
stephanie@docrra.co.za
www.docrra.co.za
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