4. Introduction 4.1 On the 24th December 2009 the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs tabled a notice of intervention on Umhlabuyalingana Local Municipality to the Office of the Chairperson of the NCOP. Subsequent to the tabling, a notice of intervention was referred to the Select Committee on Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs for consideration and reporting in terms of Council Rule 101. In compliance with the Council referral, the Select Committee resolved to undertake a fact-finding visit to the Municipality on the 17th March 2010. In terms of section 139 (2)(b)(ii) of the Constitution, the intervention must end if the NCOP does not positively approve the intervention within 180 days, in this case before the end of the 24th May 2010, since the intervention has began.