Umtshezi Municipality councillors met for their monthly meeting last Wednesday in the council chamber at 10am.
Also present at the meeting were the municipality’s management team and a few members of the public in the gallery.
During the verbal motion or notice to council there was an array of topics that councillors expressed concern about.
Democratic Alliance PR Councillor LeRoy Gericke reminded management about the responses he required to various concerns he has issued.
African National Congress PR Councillor Edith Lite said that she was very disappointed that management failed to attend meetings held by the Labour Forum Committee.
She also asked that the technical team keep tabs on the road project in Colita. “That project has problems and something has to be done urgently,” she commented.
Councillor Duma said that the roads in some areas could not accommodate the new bigger trucks that Uthukela District Municipality had acquired to provide water to rural communities.
He’s asked the municipality to provide a grader to widen and level the roads.
Speaking about several service delivery concerns in Wembezi, Councillor Mchunu called on the relevant department to progress with grass cutting, road maintenance and streetlights.
Councillor Mchunu also requested that the municipality take steps to ensure the safety of councillors. Ward one councillor Sunset Bongani Dladla said that communities were dissatisfied with the sanitation services provided by Uthukela District Municipality.
He also asked that steps should be taken against people at the municipality who did not perform.
To conclude the verbal motion, Mayor and Ward Nine councillor Bongani Derrick Dlamini said he was concerned about the Restore Order Committee who had published a letter in last week’s paper, calling for solidarity against leaders who were not performing.
Mr Dlamini said that the 2014 State of the Nation address by President Jacob Zuma was a “good story” of how the country had grown in 20 years.
He urged councillors and the public to pay attention to the Budget Speech, which was set to be delivered by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan later that day.
Speaking about security, Mr Dlamini said that surveillance cameras in the Central Business District would reduce crime but added that cameras should be installed in residential areas too.
To conclude he thanked all councillors who assisted the 205 students from Mnambithi FET College whom had to “sleep on the street.”
“A delegation has met with the FET management and we believe that the students will be ok,” said Mr Dlamini.