The DA in uMgungundlovu has written to KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC, Rev. Thulasizwe Buthelezi, to request an urgent probe into the R80 million per annum that the district spends on water tankers.
We are greatly concerned about this amount that is given to one contractor.
The contract is a huge expense to the municipality and has gone over budget. This is a direct waste of public money. The contracted services budget was exceeded by R10 million.
In addition, the municipality has its own water tankers. Two tankers were seen a month ago during an oversight visit to the depot. Since then, emails asking why the tankers are not being used have gone unanswered. The brand-new tankers are parked at the the Howick depot, and we have reliably learned that they have been there since March 2024 (view images here and here).
We have also asked many times for a report on tanker routes and how they can be reduced by the boreholes that have been installed around the district in local municipalities, at great expense. Why would the district be reluctant to share this information and reduce expenditure on tankers? Seemingly the municipality does have the resources to help provide water to our communities and help reduce the price tag on water tankers.
Money that could be used for the ailing water infrastructure is being used to line the pockets of the select few. The DA will continue to hold the municipality accountable for wasting public funds.