The Democratic Alliance has today called on KwaZulu-Natal’s ANC-led government to urgently intervene and insist that bulk water supply for the Ugu District is taken over by Umgeni Water.
The call, made in the form of a Motion tabled during a Parliament to the People Sitting held in the area comes after the absolute failure by the Ugu District Municipality to provide water to residents. It also comes as the municipality’s financial situation means that it is unable to take the necessary long- term remedial steps to safeguard the bulk water supply.
Water is a basic Human Right and nobody should have to live like this. Sadly, the ANC-led provincial Executive has already shown its contempt for the people of Ugu with former CoGTA MEC and now Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC, Nomusa Dube-Ncube, tearing up their petition in May 2017.
Since then, the DA has made several proposals in a bid to rectify the untenable circumstances in the area. In addition, we have been driving the issue hard at both a provincial and local council level. Yet there appears to be no urgency and the situation persists.
Today’s call by the DA for Umgeni Water to take over the bulk water supply must be urgently considered in the interests of the people of Ugu. The DA will continue to place pressure on KZN’s so-called ‘powers that be’ to act. We will not be deterred in our efforts to ensure that this community’s urgent need is prioritized.