ON Wednesday the DA marched and handed over a memorandum against the continuous water crisis caused by the uncaring ANC government in Ugu District Municipality.
All residents across the district have suffered the indignity of not having drinking water or being able to prepare food, bathe, flush a toilet, take care of their children and family and all the other basics of living a quality life.
We have numerous elderly and vulnerable residents suffering in this district municipality. We have witnessed grandmothers having to haul buckets of water over long distances.
The water crisis is now continuing into its second year. It is not only the vulnerable who suffer, but society as a whole. The water cuts in the 2016 festive season lasted for over four weeks.
The economic costs of these cuts have just been released by Ugu South Coast Tourism. The last set of water cuts cost businesses over R98-million and 160 people lost their jobs.
When the tourists flee due to no water, it costs our young people their jobs. The Ugu District Municipality already has an unemployment rate of 45 percent.
We cannot be adding more young people to this ‘Lost Generation’.
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This water crisis is continuing. As we marched, areas of Port Edward, Gamalakhe, Gcilima, KwaXolo and Ramsgate are still without water.
The political leadership of the Ugu District Municipality had its chance to fix these incessant problems. Yet time and time again they have shown themselves incapable of resolving the crisis.
We know that this water crisis is not caused by the drought, but poor planning and lack of infrastructure maintenance. We cannot have the Easter holiday season and Bike Week being affected by incessant water cuts.
The Democratic Alliance has consistently shown that where we govern, we deliver to all residents especially basic services, such as water and sanitation.
Our DA-run municipalities are well-run, well-planned and we put our residents first.
Even where the Democratic Alliance is in opposition, as in Ugu, we take steps to protect the rights of residents and ensure that basic service delivery occurs.
We have taken the following steps to ensure that there is a turnaround in the Ugu District Municipality:
1. The Ugu water crisis has been escalated to the KZN Provincial Legislature. I have given notice of motion on the Ugu water crisis at a sitting and this crisis will be debated in the Provincial Legislature.
2. This matter has also been escalated to the National Assembly. The DA Shadow Minister of Water and Sanitation will push for all bulk water services of the Ugu District Municipality be taken over by Umgeni Water.
Ugu has consistently shown that it cannot balance reservoirs, manage valves and operate its water plants.
3. The Democratic Alliance is liaising with both SAPS and the Hawks regarding criminal charges laid, due to sabotage of municipal infrastructure and sewerage dumping.
We will ensure that there are consequences for all illegal activities and people are held accountable.
4. Lastly and most importantly, the Democratic Alliance has written to the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs for provincial intervention, support and assistance.
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This is mandated under Section 154 of the South African Constitution. Ugu District Municipality has proven that it is incapable of fulfilling Section 27 of the Constitution; the right to access to sufficient water.
Provincial Government must now step in and act. We expect very specific outcomes from this intervention.
The Democratic Alliance will continue to fight for the rights of all residents in the Ugu District Municipality to have access to reliable water and sanitation services.
RISHIGEN VIRANNA MPL
DA Constituency Head: Ugu South
SAMKELO NDWALANE
Councillor in Ugu District Municipality
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