BY
HON MB GWALA MPL
Hon Speaker,
The KwaZulu-Natal government inherited massive service delivery backlogs when it took over uMzimkhulu from the Eastern Cape.
The R51,5-million allocated by the National Treasury for the incorporation of uMzimkhulu into KZN early 2006 was a “drop in the ocean” when compared to the massive service delivery problems.
The IFP believes that the KZN provincial government should move fast in providing services to the people of uMzimkhulu under the uMzimkhulu Special Project which was initiated in 2006/7 financial year as part of facilitating the smooth incorporation of uMzimkhulu into KwaZulu-Natal, where an amount of R 38 357 000 was transferred to Harry Gwala District Municipality for the refurbishment of existing infrastructure projects which were no longer beneficial to the community as intended.
Okunye esifisa kucace lapha udaba lwamakhosi ngoba siyazi ukuthi maningi amakhosi angena ngaphansi kwalesifundazwe eqhamuka esifundazweni saseMpumalanga Koloni okwenza ukuthi senyuke isibalo samakhosi lapha kulesifundazwe. Lokhu kuzosiza ukwazi ukuthi mangaki amakhosi oselwa asemthethweni esewonke .
The majority of people are fast becoming impatient with government for failing to provide them with services as guaranteed in the Constitution. Corruption, cadre deployment, nepotism and tenderpreneurs contribute to the increasing number of non-performing municipalities.
It is also critical that municipalities start engaging communities and civil society groups as partners in the delivery of services. They should create room for communities and other role-players to contribute in finding solutions to problems that hinder service delivery at the local government level.
However, I am curious to know the strategy the KZN MEC of Cogta will be using when axing non-performing officials and when capacitating/retraining those who need to be empowered to perform better.
I thank you