DEAR Editor,-
As residents of Ugu District Municipality, we enjoyed the Easter weekend with our families.
We were joined by many tourists who enjoyed our spectacular beaches and warm hospitality. However, not everything was as rosy as we all wished.
The new Ugu District Municipality mayor Cllr Mondli Chiliza announced the district’s festive season plan with much fanfare before the Easter weekend.
Many of the major tourist spots had water throughout, however, there were areas that were the casualties of not having water for prolonged periods.
Many residents and tourists continued to suffer the indignity of not having water to drink, bathe and other basics.
Areas of Port Edward were without water for almost four days. Areas of Ramsgate beach and Ramsgate South were without water for over six days.
The urban areas affected worst by water cuts during this period were Albersville and Protea Park, who were without a constant water supply for ten days.
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These water cuts, as debilitating as they were, pale in comparison to the four months that areas of Gcilima and KwaXolo have had to bear.
All of this in addition to the numerous ongoing pipe bursts across the district. This is not meant to be a comparison or a competition of severity – the point is to highlight that Ugu Municipality does not care about its residents, regardless of where they stay.
During this last water crisis, the municipality has shown that it lacks capacity as well. After 10 days of no water in Albersville, DA councillors were finally informed that the cause was a closed valve.
This valve was allegedly closed to fix a pipe burst and never reopened. The incompetence of the municipality is telling. There is absolutely no political will by Mayor Chiliza and the ANC-led municipality to fix its water problems or find a permanent solution.
All residents of the district are understandably frustrated and angry by the current state of affairs. However, it would be advisable for residents to vent their frustrations out on the proper authorities.
Despite the work of DA councillors to get information and rectify problems, they have faced verbal abuse, insults and threats from angry residents.
The Municipal Structures Act is very clear that it is the ANC-led executive and its administration who are responsible for keeping the taps running, managing valves and fixing leaks.
Despite numerous calls, SMSes and emails to the administration, DA councillors are faced with no feedback or incomplete information.
Residents must lay blame for the ongoing water crisis squarely on the doorstep of Mayor Chiliza. His administration’s denial of the scale of the crisis and its ongoing impact on residents is frustrating all efforts for a permanent solution.
The DA continues to call for provincial intervention, support and assistance in the Ugu District Municipality. This ongoing crisis has highlighted the lack of capacity, finance and political will within the municipality.
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This intervention will allow for financial support, additional human resources, ongoing expert advice and the formulation of a proper maintenance plan.
We encourage all affected, frustrated and angry residents to support this call for action. We call for everyone to sign our petition at bit.ly/ugupetition. It is through massive civic action that we can force provincial action to resolving this longstanding water crisis.
DR RISHIGEN VIRANNA MPL
DA Ugu South Constituency Head
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