EDITOR: On May 5, I wrote to the Umdoni municipal manager and the general manager of community services:
“It is extremely concerning to see messages and videos which are a serious indictment on the municipality. Apart from sentimental items and personal inconvenience and hardships, millions of rands have been lost in the space of a few days by two fires which Umdoni Fire Services should have been able to keep to a minimum if appropriately responded to. Numerous concerns have been raised regarding this service and the number and functionality of fire hydrants over the years – we are now witnessing the results of ignoring the concerns raised. Please can a detailed report be provided as the municipality cannot just remain silent on the issue. The time to respond is now if we really care about the people of Umdoni.”
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Having not received a reply after 10 days, I followed up on May 15 requesting answers to some questions. The municipal manager responded to say that she had referred the matter to the general manager to answer. The following are extracts from that communication:
“The total lack of response to my communication below is alarming to say the least. The last special council meeting also provided you an opportunity to submit a report to council but that was missed as well.
Please can you provide the information as a matter of urgency.”
Councillor Eddie Baptie also wrote to the municipal manager on May 5 with similar concerns and proposed “that the service is audited by a competent fire station chief to determine the state of readiness, the systems, and the competence of the staff to respond to fires and disasters. A report of this nature will be useful for planning and budgeting purposes and with the process now unfolding it is timely.” There was no response to his request either.
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As this is typical treatment towards our requests for information, I duly submitted questions requiring a written response to be placed on the Council Agenda of May 27. The questions submitted were as below:
My questions relate to the Umdoni Fire Services and is directed at the municipal manager for a response in her capacity as the head of administration.
Regarding Umdoni Municipality Fire Services:
1. Why could the fire services not provide the required service related to the house that burned down in the early hours of 2 May 2020 in Park Rynie?
2. Why could the Fire Services not provide the required service related to the businesses that burned down in the main street of Umzinto on the morning of 5 May 2020?
3. What is the status quo of Umdoni Fire Services with regard to its ability and capacity to render the required services?
4. What measures have been taken after 1 and 2 above to ensure we don’t have a repeat of such incidences.?
5. Does the Municipality have adequate insurance cover in the event of such lawsuits?
At the council meeting held on May 27, the municipal manager stated that the fire chief was assigned additional duties, so he did not have the time to provide answers – this despite it being mandatory in terms of the bylaw. Having never conducted a single meeting in terms of the Standing Rules and Orders of Council, the speaker was only too willing to prevent us from performing our oversight functions.
In light of the two incidents and the potential threat of lawsuits against the municipality, a report should have been put before council without any councillor even having to ask for it. When one looks at the current fiasco at national level regarding the lockdown regulations and the lack of transparency and accountability, Umdoni leadership is certainly playing follow the leader. As residents start to maintain the verges and repair potholes again, it appears that they will have to start fighting fires as well.
Hopefully people will think about the leadership they want come the next local government elections!
-COUNCILLOR SHARA SINGH
NB Umdoni Municipality was approached for comment but had not responded at the time of going to print.
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