“We call upon IFP-run municipalities to exercise their shareholder rights by ensuring that the directors and management of uThukela Water attend to the reported problems as speedily as possible,” said national spokesperson Reverend Musa Zondi, who is also IFP general secretary.
This follows the reports of financial mismanagement, inefficiencies and irregularities within uThukela Water, which was established to consolidate and facilitate the efficient and cost-effective delivery of water to consumers within their jurisdiction of northern KZN municipalities.
The municipalities that are part of the company are Newcastle Municipality, Amajuba District Municipality and uMzinyathi District.
Traditional Affairs and Local Government MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu will be intervening in the matter, after he was ordered to do so by national minister of Forestry and Water Affairs, Lindiwe Hendricks.
“I will leave no stone unturned in making sure that rights of people of that area are not jeopardised and that they get water. We will see what the problems of uThukela Water are as soon as possible so that we can correct them,” Mabuyakhulu said.
On Friday, The Witness reported that Mabuyakhulu had resolved the impasse between the muncipalities at a special meeting held between him and the executive committees of the municipalities involved.
Zondi in his statement added that the IFP is also deeply concerned about the continued inability of uThukela Water to speedily resolve its management and
internal capacity problems, which are leaving consumers high and dry and inconveniencing
commercial entities such as farmers and businesses.