DEAR Editor,-
The Democratic Alliance (DA) finally received a response from Nomusa Dube-Ncube, MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, regarding the ongoing financial and water crisis within Ugu District Municipality.
ALSO READ : Ugu asks to be declared a disaster area
Shockingly, in the response, the MEC states that investigation into serious intervention only started months ago, despite the fact that the crisis has been ongoing for more than three years.
There is a complete crisis in service delivery. This lack of action shows the ANC’s no-care attitude and arrogance towards all the residents of the KZN South Coast.
Ugu District Municipality has had ongoing water outages since 2015, which has left thousands of residents and tourists without water.
This was exacerbated by municipal worker strikes and alleged sabotage of vital water infrastructure.
It has a massive impact on the local tourism economy, with estimates of over 500 jobs lost and R90 million in revenue losses.
In addition, the lack of drought preparedness resulted in water-shedding in the Harding area.
In addition, Ugu has a monthly budgetary shortfall of R10 million. Every month, the municipality has to dip into its reserve funds in order to pay salaries.
Ugu also has an increasing number of creditors, especially contractors involved in pipe maintenance.
In addition, the municipality has a debtor’s book of over R500 million. However, its billing system has been dysfunctional since February with residents not receiving bills.
The current ANC administration, under Mayor Mondli Chiliza, cannot be trusted to turn the situation around.
They created this crisis. The people of the South Coast are disgusted by the lack of care by this ANC government towards the situation.
South Coast Tourism has already launched their festive season plans.
The tourism sector is vital for jobs, particularly for the youth.
The DA calls for the MEC to act now to prevent future water outages and job losses and will continue to call for section 139 administration with the appointment of a capable administrator.
In addition, all bulk water services should be handed over to the more capable Umgeni Water.
RISHIGEN VIRANNA
DA KZN Ugu Constituency Head
