His absence drew a sharp rebuke from Members of Parliament and intensified scrutiny around a 2019 forensic investigation whose recommendations have still not been fully implemented.
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The Select Committee on Public Petitions and Executive Undertakings had travelled to Newcastle to assess progress on a petition submitted by the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU).
The petition centres on allegations of racism, irregular procurement practices and governance failures at uThukela Water (Pty) Ltd.
“The union petitioned the committee with allegations of racism, irregular procurement processes, and governance failures at uThukela Water. The petition also cites several municipalities that failed to implement the recommendations of a forensic investigation commissioned by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs,” stated the Select Committee on Public Petitions and Executive Undertaking.
At the centre of the matter is a forensic report completed in 2019, which identified concerns relating to procurement processes, possible conflicts of interest and the conduct of senior officials.
Parliament previously confirmed that the report found that a group of service providers may have received contracts irregularly through procurement manipulation and conflicts of interest. Senior managers were also accused of discriminatory conduct.
The entity has since faced sustained criticism over the failure to institute disciplinary action and implement the recommendations arising from the investigation.
uThukela Water provides bulk potable water to Newcastle Local Municipality, Amajuba District Municipality and uMzinyathi District Municipality.
Furthermore, KZN CoGTA previously confirmed that the entity had also faced allegations of racism that were investigated and sustained, but that action had not been taken against those implicated.
Tuesday’s meeting, held at uThukela Water’s Harding Street offices in Newcastle, was intended to advance the parliamentary process by bringing together the relevant stakeholders and examining what had been done since the forensic findings emerged.
However, the committee was once again left without the province’s political head for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Committee chairperson Ofentse Mokae condemned the MEC’s absence.
“The MEC for CoGTA has once again failed to appear before the committee despite repeated invitations. This continued absence is unacceptable and undermines Parliament’s constitutional oversight function.”
Although Reverend Buthelezi was not the MEC who originally commissioned the 2019 investigation, he is now the political head of the department responsible for accounting for its handling and the implementation of its recommendations.
During an earlier engagement in June 2026, Parliament expressed concern that uThukela Water had failed to act against senior officials accused of racism and had not implemented recommendations arising from the forensic report.
The committee was informed that much of the contemplated disciplinary action could not be completed because implicated officials had resigned or retired before action was taken.
Parliament also raised concern that the matter had remained unresolved for approximately six years before reaching the committee.
According to the committee, the MEC’s apology for Tuesday’s absence was only communicated through departmental officials on the day of the meeting, while committee members were already travelling to Newcastle.
“The committee scheduled a meeting today (4 August 2026) between uThukela Water and the South African Municipal Workers’ Union (SAMWU) on the failures to implement the recommendations of a forensic investigation commissioned by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs. KZN COGTA MEC, Rev Thulasizwe Buthelezi, tendered the apology through the departmental officials on the day of the meeting when committee members were already en route to the meeting at uThukela Water offices in Newcastle,” said Mokae.
SAMWU’s petition alleges, among other things, that uThukela Water failed to implement recommendations relating to incidents of racism and continued awarding contracts to a group of white-owned companies.
These remain allegations contained in the union’s petition and have formed part of the matters placed before the parliamentary committee.
The forensic investigation, however, appears to have identified broader governance concerns beyond the allegations of discrimination.
According to information previously presented to Parliament, the report identified possible procurement manipulation, undisclosed conflicts of interest and the alleged involvement of senior executives in financial and discriminatory misconduct.
Yet the committee has heard that disciplinary processes were repeatedly frustrated after implicated employees left the entity before the proceedings could be concluded.
This has raised wider concerns about consequence management within public institutions, particularly where officials resign or retire while investigations or disciplinary processes are still underway.
Mokae previously warned that officials implicated in misconduct were increasingly able to move from one state institution to another without facing consequences for their conduct in previous positions.
He described the practice as a growing problem within the public service that needed to be rooted out.
Following Tuesday’s failed engagement, the committee confirmed that it would move to formally summon the MEC.
The summons is expected to compel Reverend Buthelezi to appear before the committee and provide a written explanation for his repeated absence.
He will also be expected to account for the department’s handling of the forensic investigation and explain what has been done to ensure that its recommendations are implemented.
Should the MEC fail to comply, the committee intends escalating the matter to the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces. His non-attendance will also be formally recorded in the committee’s final report.
The development places renewed pressure on both KZN CoGTA and the municipalities responsible for overseeing uThukela Water.
While some implicated officials may no longer be employed by the entity, questions remain over whether the findings were properly referred to relevant investigative or law enforcement bodies, whether financial losses can be recovered and what measures have been introduced to prevent similar conduct.
Nevertheless, the focus will now shift to whether Reverend Buthelezi appears before Parliament and provides a clear account of the department’s response to the forensic findings.
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Until the report’s recommendations are fully addressed, the allegations of procurement manipulation, discrimination and governance failure will continue to cast a shadow over uThukela Water and the municipalities responsible for its oversight.
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know below.
SAMWU’S please inform us how many other race’s are in your top management? Why not also take all these contractors who under performs and poor quality work. Just look at Newcastle infrastrukture.
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SAMWU’S please inform us how many other race’s are in your top management? Why not also take all these contractors who under performs and poor quality work. Just look at Newcastle infrastrukture.