Newly appointed president of the Endumeni Chamber of Commerce, Alan Schonken, has voiced serious concerns over poor municipal governance, which he says is crippling local business.

Schonken, who started his Glencoe-based company in 2000, said: “Endumeni and Umzinyathi municipalities are failing to deliver core services like water, roads and electricity. Local businesses already face serious economic hurdles — now they must deal with effluent and potholes too.”

He called on SAPS to investigate corruption, citing a recent report revealing widespread tender irregularities. “Officials recommended for discipline simply move to new municipalities without consequence,” he said. “There’s no accountability — unlike in the past when working in local government was an honour.”

Schonken criticised the awarding of contracts to companies outside the district. “The municipal website is outdated, and local contractors are being ignored while inferior work is done by outsiders. We want answers.”

He added, “Municipalities should be run like businesses. With their track record, most staff would’ve been dismissed long ago.”

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