THE Mpumalanga government has placed the Thembisile Hani municipality in the Nkangala district municipality under administration.

The municipality has been plagued by infighting among councillors. The mayor has been stripped of his powers and a number of senior officials dismissed.

The municipality was placed under curatorship after MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs Norman Mokoena suspended the mayoral committee a fortnight ago.

Mpumalanga Premier David Mabuza addressed the community of Kwaggafontein last week and told them the municipality had serious problems, including the dismissal of the municipal manager, the chief financial officer and some directors.

"Mayor Victor Nkosi was stripped of his powers and replaced by an ad hoc committee," Mabuza said.

He said the provincial government decided to suspend the mayor and his mayoral committee, and appoint three curators, led by Vusi Kubheka, who would assess the municipality over the next six weeks.

He said more district municipality and department of finance officials would assist the curators.