14 -  20 September 2009

My fellow citizens of KwaZulu Natal

The IFP has raised eyebrows at the call by certain cash-strapped KwaZulu-Natal municipalities for the introduction of a special fuel levy to balance their budgets.

In their representation to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in the KZN Legislature last week eThekwini, Msunduzi and uMgungundlovu complained that income generated from electricity, rates and water is insufficient to enable them to function and to properly roll out services.

Our advice to these municipalities is to adjust the salaries of their top managers before looking for extra income among those who are already paying their fair share for the municipal services and who are certainly not responsible for the shortfalls in municipal finance.

As things stand, there has been an increase in the number of residents who cannot pay for municipal services from 2006 but especially in 2009. Retrenchments associated with the economic recession have impacted on consumers' ability to pay for these services. Most municipalities have also seen a significant growth in their numbers of indigents.

Imposing a new indirect levy on consumers who are already struggling to make ends meet is unfair. The prospect of a new pool of payers who would not directly benefit from municipal services would probably demoralize profligate councils even further.

Another municipality that is currently in the red is uMkhanyakude District although the reasons for this are less far-fetched than top managers’ salaries in, let’s say, uMngeni. uMkhanyakude District has had to hire water tanks from suppliers at a very high cost to bring water to its residents.

The lack of adequate water in Jozini in particular is a mounting crisis which has been made worse by a crippling drought in the area. At times, the water crisis is so severe that even the local hospitals, Mosvold and Bethesda in particular, have to make do without water.

Yet the nearby Jozini dam, which has the capacity to deliver water to the community, remains unutilized, for reasons unknown to us. The uMkhanyakude District has written numerous letters to local and national government seeking assistance, but they have received no reply to date.

Unlike the municipalities that are calling for an extra fuel levy to balance their books, uMkhanyakude District calls on the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs to do nothing more than visit the area as a matter of urgency, meet with the mayor and discuss the feasibility a viable, sustainable water supply for the local community.

Sincerely,

Dr Bonginkosi Buthelezi MPL

Leader of the Official Opposition

Contact: Dr Bonginkosi Buthelezi, 082 516 0156