The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ugu District Municipality is calling for KwaZulu-Natal Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Sipho Hlomuka, to place this municipality under administration and appoint a capable administrator in terms of section 139 (1) of the Constitution.
During the recent School Functionality Oversight visit to Merlewood Secondary School in Port Shepstone by members of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature, members received numerous reports regarding the almost decade-old sewage leak through the road into Mkholombe and the school.
School officials, parents and community members described the sewage flowing directly into the school grounds. This is having a major impact on both learners and teachers with many becoming ill at various times. Instead of fixing the sewage leak, the district municipality built a ditch guiding the sewage away, however, this intervention failed.
This effluent has flowed through Mkholombe and Merlewood Secondary for almost a decade. Members on oversight were provided with numerous correspondence between both the Education Department and local DA councillor reporting it, yet the Ugu District Municipality has done nothing.
This is not the first time that this municipality has been lambasted by the KZN Legislature. In November during the Taking Legislature to the People sitting, members experienced days without water in Margate. Just as ordinary residents faced throughout the South Coast for weeks. The leadership of this municipality has failed the people of the South Coast.
The DA continues its call for the Ugu District Municipality to provide basic water and sanitation services. The only way this will occur is if the district is placed under administration. In addition, bulk water services must be transferred to Umgeni Water.
This government has left the crisis in Ugu to fester for too long, the DA is demanding their action.