The Jozini local municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal has become the latest municipality to fail to pay staff salaries on time, citing historic financial difficulties.
The Inkatha Freedom Party-run (IFP) municipality has joined the ranks of the Umzinyathi district municipality (also run by the IFP) and the Impendle local municipality, run by the ANC.
Staff memo
The failure by the Jozini municipality to pay staff salaries on time (25 June 2025) is contained in an internal memo obtained by Sunday World. In the memo, the municipality said it would be able to pay the salaries before the end of the first week of July 2025.
The memo was signed off by the acting Municipal Manager, Sipho Nkosi. It is dated 23 June 2025.
“Please rest assured that we are actively working to resolve the matter. And we expect salaries to be paid on or before the end of the first week of July 2025. We truly value your patience and continued dedication during this time,” reads the memo to the staff.
Insiders said this is because the municipality is banking on the money it would receive from the government. This as part of the 2025-2026 budget.
The municipality later said that the difficulties started in November 2024. Since then it has been operating on an overdraft facility to manage day-to-day operations, including salaries.
Ex-mayor fired over graft
This was in reference to a decision that was taken by the former exco (executive committee). The said committee was chaired by former Mayor Mfananaye Mathe. However, the IFP fired Mathe early last month when it learnt of the difficulties and allegations of financial mismanagement. Mathe was fired together with his exco and replaced with Nkosinathi Myeni.
“This unfortunate situation was inherited by the new leadership, who assumed [office] last month (May 2025).
“Addressing the municipality’s financial instability is one of the key mandates assigned to the new leadership. And work is already underway to stabilise the situation and ensure this does not recur,” the municipality said when Sunday World asked what led to the financial challenges.
