Ratepayers have their say at municipal imbizo in Port Shepstone
Municipal Speaker Phumlani Gumbi encouraged the community to participate in municipal affairs and help it prepare its community informed review.
Ray Nkonyeni Municipality has started its legislated public participation imbizos to engage with local communities for input on developing its integrated development plan (IDP) for all its wards.
The Cluster 6 imbizo for wards 4, 17, 18 and 20 was held at Port Shepstone Civic Centre recently.
Municipal Speaker Phumlani Gumbi encouraged the community to participate in municipal affairs and help it prepare its community informed IDP or review.
“The law obliges local government to create conditions for the community to participate in the affairs of the municipality. It is against this legislative framework that we engage with the public in preparation of the IDP, and these meetings are an opportunity for the public to raise all developmental issues which require the attention of the municipality.”
Gumbi urged residents to be constructive with their inputs. “These contributions will form part of the municipal IDP, but not all of them will have budgets for implementation. Bear with us with other issues because due to budgetary constraints, we are forced to analyse your inputs and prioritise them accordingly.”
The community pleaded for roads and potholes to be fixed, overgrown verges to be cut, storm water drainage systems to be maintained, as well as community halls and buildings on sports fields to be repaired. Also, they urged that vagrants living in abandoned structures and houses be removed.
The community further complained about lack of maintenance on leaking Ugu water pipes, and sewage and oil spillages from local industries which contaminate rivers and kill nature.
Mayor Zodwa Mzindle said the municipality is trying its best to improve road infrastructure, in both rural and urban communities.
“More road rehabilitation will be done in February 2026. We appeal to communities to point out which roads need to be prioritised and to advise their ward committees. The housing programme in KwaNdwalane and Oshabeni will continue and some of the Sukuma Sakhe and disaster houses have been completed.”
Ugu councillor Nomfundo Dlamini said water and sanitation services are being provided in Ugu. “In Boboyi, Port Shepstone and Marburg we have stable water supply, with the exception of the Oshabeni area due to the Umhlabashane Dam not functioning properly.”
Furthermore, Dlamini said they are investigating sewage spillage or pollution in local rivers and have injected millions of rands to stop this problem.
Also, she urged residents to refrain from any illegal water connections that will interfere with service delivery.
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