Umvoti Municipality’s speaker and mayor have filed urgent papers at the Pietermaritzburg High Court in an effort to interdict their removal from their positions.

In addition, speaker Mfundo Masondo said it has been difficult for him to work due to numerous threats to his life.

Masondo and Mayor Philani Mavundla approached the court seeking to interdict the municipal manager from calling a special council meeting, which was requested by the councillors. The Umvoti councillors are also cited as respondents in the matter.

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Masondo and Mavundla have asked the court to direct them to refrain from introducing new notices of motion until after the general elections on May 29.

This comes after the IFP and ANC in Umvoti filed a motion to remove both Mavundla and Masondo from their positions.

The parties requested that the motion of no-confidence be tabled at a special council meeting, which they requested this month, adding they have lost faith and trust in both Masondo and Mavundla.

With regards to the motion, the councillors said Mavundla has failed dismally to remedy the ills plaguing the council, adding the implementation of the strategic plan of the municipality has not yielded the desired results and the financial affairs of the municipality are not conducive to the provision of basic services to the residents.

The councillors accused Masondo of being biased when presiding at meetings and permitting the council to adopt resolutions, which are in non-compliance, as well as deliberately permitting resolutions to be adopted, which are not in keeping with the rule of law.

Through an affidavit submitted to court, Masondo said he has received threats resulting in his being unable go into his office or work in peace without the fear of being assaulted.

He also emphasised how life-threatening political violence is.

Masondo said since April 12, there has been a joint effort by the councillors regarding disruptions in Umvoti.

He said the councillors started a course of conduct designed to throw the Umvoti Municipality into total chaos.

He said the IFP councillors have filed a series of motions of no-confidence against him and Mavundla and have made it their duty to threaten to remove them by whatever means possible.

They have also threatened to resort to call in the aid of crowds of people to disrupt the speaker and halt proceedings in Umvoti.

“They have also informed me personally that if the current municipal manager of Umvoti does not do as they say, they will violently remove him from office,” said Masondo.

Masondo said with the general elections approaching next month, threats of violence should not be allowed. He said violence and disruptions in Umvoti may well spread out into other towns placing the smooth flow of the elections in jeopardy.

Masondo and Mavundla said the request for a special council meeting is invalid because it does not have a mover and a seconder for the request. They added that the motion also didn’t have a seconder and is therefore invalid.

Interestingly, this so-called motion is brought by Gabriel Malembe. He is a former mayor of Umvoti and was removed by the councillors of Umvoti last year. On November 17, 2023, a report was filed relating to allegations of misconduct by Malembe.

“While he was the mayor, he was accused of fraud and corruption to the value of approximately R193 000 relating to assets of the Umvoti Municipality,” read the court papers.

This matter is set down for the unopposed motion court roll on May 13.

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Speaking to The Witness on Monday, IFP caucus leader Vincent Zondi said all they want is a special council where the motion will be tabled and dealt with.

“There’s been elections before and nothing in between had to stop so we don’t understand why it should happen now,” he said.