ULUNDI municipal officials yesterday said they were still awaiting written confirmation so that they could declare axed IFP councillor Zanele Dlamuka's post vacant.

But they have meanwhile, deployed other councillors to handle matters in Dlamuka's Ward 12.

Dlamuka was fired by provincial MEC for local government and traditional affairs Nomusa Dube last week.

Dube said the decision came after Dlamuka's "persistent failure to attend a series of council and portfolio committee meetings".

Dube's decision to give Dlamuka the boot is part of the department's effort to promote clean governance in municipalities.

Councillors in the municipality had recommended that Dube take action to reprimand Dlamuka following several requests by the council calling on her to adhere to council rules in terms of attending meetings to facilitate the provision of service delivery to the people.

Dlamuka expressed shock that she had been fired as councillor. "I have no idea that I have been fired. I suggest that you contact my superiors in the municipality, they might have knowledge of that. I know nothing about that."

However, speaker Vus'muzi Sibiya told Sowetan yesterday that the council had taken a decision to bring Dlamuka's situation to the attention of Dube's office.

"At our council meeting we resolved that the matter should be brought to Dube's attention as Dlamuka had been away for the past two years and not attending any meetings because she had moved back to Durban.

"At the moment we have deployed different councillors to Ward 12 to take care of the community needs," Sibiya said.

He said once confirmation was received from the MEC, then the post would be declared vacant.