DEAR Editor,-
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has again written to Hon Nomusa Dube-Ncube, KZN MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, calling for Ugu District Municipality to be placed under Section 139 administration and the appointment of a capable administrator.
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The DA has been calling for this course of action for over two years.
Instead of taking proactive action, MEC Dube-Ncube has rather played petty politics by refusing to hear the voices of thousands of Ugu residents. All the while, the situation has worsened.
The DA’s call is further strengthened by the ongoing financial crisis within the Ugu District Municipality.
The municipality is facing a R10 million monthly shortfall in its budget – Ugu has a monthly income of R28 million yet monthly expenses are R38 million.
In addition, there is a shortfall in funding for capital infrastructure projects and municipal debtors’ book approaching R500 million.
This is also coupled with a massively dysfunctional billing system. Thus even those residents who are willing to pay their bills cannot, due to lack of municipal bills.
All of this occurred under the watch of Mayor Mondli Chiliza. The mayor and his entire ANC administration has shown itself incapable of turning the situation around.
Even in the midst of this crisis, he has remained silent. Under their watch, both the water provision and financial situation has worsened.
Previous interventions by provincial government have come to nothing. The current administration cannot be trusted to turn the municipality around.
The DA has proactive steps to inform residents on a framework of making payments and lodging grievances.
We hope that this will ensure that at least some municipal services can be rolled out while the DA continues to fight for a permanent solution in the form of Section 139 Administration.
The DA will continue fighting for:
* Immediate declaration of Section 139 Administration for the Ugu District Municipality;
* The appointment of a capable administrator to implement a ‘Turnaround Strategy’, and
* Ugu District Municipality’s bulk water services to be handed over to Umgeni Water for management.
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We are still awaiting the outcome of SA Human Rights Commission and Public Protector investigations into Ugu District Municipality.
The DA is investigating other solutions to this severe crisis.
Unlike other parties that have only now spoken about the crisis, the DA will continue to fight for all residents of Ugu District Municipality, both urban and rural.
The DA will ensure that all residents have the dignity of water and sanitation services.
DR RISHIGEN VIRANNA MPL
DA Ugu Constituency Head
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