The IFP believes that some municipalities that are performing poorly have been excluded after the KZN MEC of COGTA has placed uThukela District Municipality under administration. It further questions the motives behind this.
As the IFP we were expecting that the KZN MEC of COGTA will apply the similar no-nonsense approach in dealing with dysfunctional municipalities like the uMsunduzi Municipality, eThekwini Municipality and Newcastle Municipality. We therefore challenge the MEC to tell the public why she has not put these municipalities under administration? Those who have been entrusted to exercise political oversight have failed the electorate and therefore they should vacate their positions.
Is this now a factional approach when it comes to municipalities that are under administration? We are now convinced that the current political thuggery in the local government enjoys the support of some elements of senior leadership owing to the deafening silence from the powers that be.
The decision to put uThukela District Municipality under administration is long overdue.
This municipality has failed dismally to provide services to the people. Currently, many areas in town are without water. The water crisis in the uThukela District Municipality has become intolerable with vast areas of this municipality once again suffering severe water outages.
It is a worrying trend that after two years after the local government has taken place the MEC put the municipalities under administration.
We call upon the KZN MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Nomusa Dube-Ncube to conduct an in-depth investigation of these issues of accountability and ethical behaviour pertaining to local government.
Issued by:
Mr Blessed Gwala MPL
IFP Leader in the KZN Legislature
078 290 5842