DEAR Editor,-
Despite vigorous claims to the contrary by the KwaZulu-Natal COGTA MEC, Nomusa Dube, information sourced by the Democratic Alliance shows a decline in local government performance in the province over the past five years, with a sharp drop during the past two reporting years.
The research, conducted using the Auditor-General’s opinion over a five year period between 2007 and 2012 as a measure, shows that the number of municipalities that have regressed went from seven in 2007 to 15 in 2012. The number of municipalities that recorded neither an improvement or drop in performance levels remained fairly static throughout and the number of municipalities which improved dropped from 11 in 2007 to four in 2012.
Municipal performance impacts directly on the lives of ordinary people. It is unacceptable that standards should decline year after year.
The MEC must stop pretending that all is well and start facing reality.
GEORGE MARI
MPP, Democratic Alliance
