Tribute to former Newcastle Municipal Manager, Abdul Hoosen

Following Mr Hoosen’s passing, Bheki (Errol) Mswane, also a former Municipal Manager for Newcastle Municipality, issued a heartfelt tribute. “It is with great sadness that we announce the tragic passing of Abdul Hoosen, former Municipal Manager of Newcastle. Mr Hoosen passed away on Friday, 7 June 2024.”

As explained by Mswane, Mr Hoosen was one of the local government practitioners fortunate enough to experience all phases of local government.

Having qualified as a Health Inspector from ML Sultan Technikon, Mr Hoosen began his career as a young Health Inspector in what later became known as eThekwini Municipality.

“It was not long then Mr Hoosen joined what was known then as the Borough of Newcastle in 1975, also as a Health Inspector. In recognition of his capabilities, Mr Hoosen was later appointed as the Secretary of the then Indian Local Affairs in Newcastle,” explained Mswane.

As the inevitable democratic dispensation took effect, Mr Hoosen was then appointed to the position of Chief Health Inspector, a position he held for a short time and subsequently became the first non-white Head of Community Services at the time.

“Whilst working in the Department of Community Services, especially during apartheid, he served as a shop steward championing the issues and the plight of the rank and file of the employees. He made great strides negotiating for the better conditions of the employees in the workplace. He later used the experience he accumulated as a shop steward to advocate better working conditions for employees when he got introduced into management positions,” elaborated Mswane.

Mswane further highlighted that many of those serving with Mr Hoosen in management often accused him of siding more with the employees than the employer.

“We didn’t understand that he considered his activism in the union as the shaper which eventually facilitated his recognition and introduction into management echelons in the municipality,” noted Mswane.

According to Mswane, Mr Hoosen was then appointed as Deputy Municipal Manager. Transformation then began when he introduced significant changes in the transformation of the municipality, resulting in the appointment of black senior managers as well as female managers in the structure of the municipality.

“It is no gainsaying that most of them did not have the necessary experience to perform at that level. However, Mr Hoosen made it his duty to carry them along in his mission to transform the organisation,” highlighted Mswane. 

When the then Municipal Manager, Dawie Schutte, retired, Mr Hoosen was the obvious choice to take over as the first non-white Municipal Manager in the history of Newcastle.

“He, together with his collective, oversaw a plethora of institutional transformation processes. This apparently included the introduction of the Integrated Development Planning, Financial Reforms that were introduced as part of the MFMA, a major shift in the budget allocation to favour those who were previously disadvantaged, the introduction of public participation by the community in the matters of service delivery and much more.”

Moreover, Mswane emphasised that Mr Hoosen was undoubtedly a notable local government practitioner. 

“He cared deeply for the community he served! He continued to be of service to the local government fraternity through his participation as a Trustee in the Municipal Pension Fund in KZN. He was a true and unshakeable believer of the Muslim faith and stood by its values through and through. He faithfully remained a support system to his wife when she was not feeling well. We are all truly indebted to him as Newcastillians for his love, dedication, and hard work throughout his service as a public servant in all the capacities he occupied,” said Mswane, who added that everyone’s thoughts and love went out to his family, his two sons Faheed and Ziyaad, at this difficult time.

“We assure them of our prayers and thoughts! We want to thank them for having shared this fine son of the soil with all of us! We wish also to extend our gratitude and thanks to his niece, husband and the entire family for having taken care of Mr Hoosen especially during the time when Aunt Sophie had departed. May God richly bless you and keep you in his care always! Fare thee well Abdul! You have indeed fought a good fight! Till we meet again!,” concluded Mswane.

Newcastillian News extends its heartfelt condolences to the Hoosen family during this trying time.

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