News from Utrecht: (Emadlangeni Municipality)
Chair: Pat Collins.
The residents have delivered their credentials to the Municipal Manager of Utrecht, and can now regard themselves as a properly-constituted community organisation. In terms of sections 16-22 of the MSA they are part of the governing process.
The politics of Utrecht are rather sticky, as the IFP mayor has been found guilty of corruption and fraud, and suspended. He appealed, his conviction was overturned, a new hearing found him guilty again and he was suspended again. This has effectively left Utrecht without a mayor and with a hung council. No governance is taking place. The budget has been neither discussed or passed. The valuation roll is incomplete. There are many problems with the management of the town and the residents are getting organised to protest the lack of management.