As eThekwini, KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) only metro continues to lurch from one crisis to the next, the province’s ANC-run government remains in denial about the reality on the ground.
This was clear during an oral question session in the KZN Legislature earlier today after the DA renewed its call on Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube for the metro to be placed under Section 139 – a more effective intervention than the current clumsy, watered-down Section 154.
Despite the crisis that exists, the Premier flip-flopped when answering, first agreeing that there are issues but then pointing to a report tabled by national treasury and COGTA, which allegedly states that eThekwini is a functional municipality.
The question is: If everything is fine in eThekwini, then why did national government insist on administration? And why – in the same breath – did the Premier agree with the problems highlighted by the DA?
If the ANC is unable to fully admit to the problem, it will not be able to address or solve it.
The reality is that the ANC itself is the problem. Our province has one metro – and sadly it is not a place to be proud of. Instead, it is awash with sewerage, leaving the poor to get their water from heavily polluted rivers.
It is also a metro that was forced to send R322million in unused municipal grants back to the national ANC-run government, while its people suffer under failing infrastructure.
With load shedding now back in full force, the metro’s Head of Electricity has stated that he can switch the power off – but he cannot guarantee he will be able to switch it back on.
The Premier and her COGTA MEC need to act in the best interests of eThekwini and KZN’s people.
This municipality must be placed under Section 139. Failure to do so will see KZN’s voters place this ANC-run provincial government under administration when they go to the polls next year.