Has Ugu been placed under administration?
Although Sbu Sithole's appointment is said to be on an interim basis, councillors fear they are not being told the full story behind his appointment.
Questions surround the fate of Ugu District Municipality as some councillors claim that the embattled municipality has been placed under administration.
The depth of the problems facing Ugu, which include alleged political interference, axed employees, torched vehicles and alleged sabotage of critical infrastructure has forced provincial government officials, encouraged by the district council itself, to engage the services of a ‘municipal expert’.
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Although Sbu Sithole’s appointment is said to be on an interim basis, councillors fear they are not being told the full story behind his appointment.
Mr Sithole joined Ugu last week in a bid to save the struggling municipality, leaving Msunduzi municipality in Pietermaritzburg where he was placed as an administrator last year.
A special council meeting has been scheduled for today (Thursday) at which councillors are expected to deliberate on the logistics of Mr Sithole’s appointment and provide clarity on whether or not the municipality is under administration.
Spokesman France Zama confirmed the meeting and said it would “answer most questions” about the fate of Ugu and the direction in which it is heading.
However he stressed that Ugu was not under administration.
Meanwhile, the municipality’s problems continue unabated with vehicles set alight, reservoirs tampered with and basic infrastructure sabotaged.
Over the past two months, Ugu has been struggling to deal with angry residents who are without water, striking workers, community protests and damaged infrastructure.
Six vehicles – including a water tanker – have been torched.
According to Mr Zama, acts of sabotage seem to be “a well-organised plan to bring the functions of the municipality to a halt”.
“Criminal charges have been filed with law enforcement agencies, and we ask members of the community to help the police with information that will lead to the apprehension of the culprits.”
Community with no water
While reports of political squabbles are said to be behind the crisis at Ugu, residents have been left high and dry with no water and no answers as to when the problem will be resolved.
The situation has become so dire that some communities have embarked on protests, damaging roads and pipes.
On Monday this week, Murchison and Bhobhoyi residents embarked on a protest over the lack of water.
The angry protesters blocked the N2 for two days, forcing law enforcement officers to divert traffic to alternative routes.
Ugu Mayor Sizwe Ngcobo and his team met with the community to listen to their grievances.
A planned peaceful protest will take place today (Thursday), meeting at Chris Hani Square (the former Dick King parking lot) in Port Shepstone at 9am.
At 10am, marchers will set off for the Ugu offices at 28 Connor Street in Port Shepstone where a memorandum will be handed to an Ugu representative.
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