A dysfunctional technical communication system at the Msunduzi council chambers abruptly adjourned the council meeting on Wednesday, just two hours into the agenda.
The failure, along with disagreements over how to address the situation, prompted a walkout by the DA and the ACDP. Key technical issues included faulty microphones, which made audio recordings impossible, and the absence of an interpreter for non-Zulu-speaking councillors — an ongoing concern.
Additionally, virtual participants were barely audible, with the only source of sound being a single laptop placed in front of council Speaker Eunice Majola and acting municipal manager Nelisiwe Ngcobo.
ALSO READ | Change of venue for SOPA, KZN Legislature opening
ACDP councillor Rienus Niemand argued that continuing the meeting under such conditions violated the guiding principles of the council’s Rules of Order.
After three separate caucus sessions — two by the DA and one by the ANC — all parties agreed that the state of the communication system was unacceptable.
In response, the DA proposed postponing the meeting until the necessary technical repairs were completed or reconvening the session virtually. The ACDP supported this proposal.
ANC chief whip Sandile Dlamini acknowledged the collapse of the communication system, recommending a hybrid meeting format as a temporary solution.
“We acknowledge that the system is not functioning as expected, but as a short-term intervention, we propose having a hybrid form of meeting. We are also calling for those responsible for the system to be taken to task,” said Dlamini.
ALSO READ | KZN Legislature employees threaten to down tools over overtime pay dispute
ACDP’s Niemand proposed obtaining a legal opinion on whether the meeting could lawfully proceed under the circumstances. However, this suggestion was not entertained by Majola, which led to the DA and ACDP walking out.
In a statement following the walkout, DA caucus leader Ross Strachan urged acting city manager Ngcobo to take corrective action and enforce consequence management against the officials and departments responsible.
Strachan described the meeting as “unlawful and invalid” due to multiple procedural breaches.
The non-functional recording system, lack of translation services, and a broken public announcement (PA) system seriously undermines transparency, accountability, and the ability of councillors and the public to participate meaningfully
“Honestly, spaza shops in the city are run more efficiently than the Msunduzi council,” said Strachan.
Majola said there was no need for legal advice on the matter as there was no conflict.
Msunduzi Municipality had not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication.