Gauteng’s cholera outbreak – which has already claimed the lives of 23 people – is a wake-up call to every South African citizen eligible to vote.
The eruption of the disease is symptomatic of government failure and points to the life-threatening risks our people face under a failed state.
The DA’s condolences and prayers go out to those families who grieve their losses.
Our country lurches from one crisis to another as the primary services of water, energy and transport buckle under the weight of destructive neglect caused by an inept government.
The question is: How much more damage can this ANC-run government do to our economy, our environment and our people, that held so much promise only 29 years ago?
In KwaZulu-Natal there is widespread neglect of water and wastewater systems with responsible entities/municipalities unable to supply existing demands or achieve safe water quality standards.
South Coast and eThekwini residents know all about frequent sewer outflows and water shortages – they have lived with it for over a decade.
The crisis is exacerbated by loadshedding.
These combined factors place KZN at high risk when it comes to a possible cholera outbreak.
Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube and her cabinet must develop a mitigation strategy with preventive measures and KZN’s Health MEC must develop a response plan that will rally resources in such an eventuality.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s denialism is not good enough to save lives.
In contrast to KZN’s decay and destruction, substantial strides towards infrastructure improvement are underway within the DA-led City of Cape Town, Western Cape municipalities and KZN’s DA-run uMngeni Municipality.
The impact on the local economies and job creation is palpable. The impact on quality services reignites our hopes for a better future.
It will take decisive leadership to stave off a cholera outbreak in KZN and a paradigm shift in policy and performance to pull our province out of its ANC-built sinkhole.
Our people need a new start to get us on the road to recovery and it looms large in 2024.
EDWIN BAPTIE, MPL
DA Ugu Constituency Head
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