Residents from KwaDukuza’s wards 6, 22 and 30 shared their thoughts on the 2025 Mayoral Imbizo which was hosted at Umhlali Prep last Thursday.

Mveli Sibandze: This meeting made it abundantly clear to all that the mayor couldn’t be less bothered with our stretch of the municipality despite it being the biggest contributor to KDM’s revenue and second, that there actually is no plan to resolve the infrastructure issues, chief among them, the power issues. A massive insult to each resident of the three wards.

Thomas Nicolson: I was disappointed that there was zero under 30, a handful under 40 and the rest senior citizens. Real estate agents should have been out in force. Handful showed up. Biggest disappointment was not only mayor absence, but also the municipal manager. Must be a bad bug going around in the chambers for all to be sick at the same time. Unfortunately, they would have been laughing at our outrage as soon as they walked out the meeting.

Sharon Irene Preen Paterson: Ran in the opposite direction with his tail between his legs. I was so proud of being part of the community who came out in full force. When the going gets tough the tough get going. I don’t think we should rest. We are the main financial contributors. I think we made our mark. Let them laugh at us if they wish. Remember, he who laughs laughs last.

Stephne Ashworth: Interesting that the mayor attended the Council meeting that morning. I don’t think he had the acumen to handle the questions. Jabulo has the gift of the gab. Orchestrated in my opinion. The mayor was not sick in my opinion.

Jackie Futter: Their departmental reviews were as clear as mud. No accountability and no mayor. Disrespectful to say the least.

Kathryn Costello: The mood, when it was announced that the mayor would not be attending, was furious. How dare he not turn up? How dare he pretend to be sick? How dare he insult all of us, who pay his salary, how dare he disrespect us?

The North Coast Courier, do us all a favour, and give a proper report of what went down. All the questions, and all the pathetic answers and excuses for the KDM municipality’s incompetence, inefficiency and waste of money – don’t sugar coat it, in the favour of a discourteous bunch of people. I will give the poor deputy mayor his due though – he kept his cool, and remained steadfast in all his answers, even though he must be deeply embarrassed to be working for such an incompetent leader.

Let’s hope he has the backbone to expose his incompetent office. The question of the R173 000.00 security bill paid to a Durban company, (why not a local company?) – Ali Ngidi has now illustrated why he needs that sort of security. What a disappointment he must be to the people who voted for him.

Keith Goor: I noticed the absence of the younger generation, very disappointing. The absence of the mayor and municipal manager is a real slap in the face.

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