While the recent National Council of Provinces (NCOP) oversight inspections in the iLembe District revealed some obvious successes, they sadly also revealed glaring failures.
Included in the successes are several positive infrastructural projects which have been completed or are still in progress within various iLembe municipalities in keeping with the National Development Plan (NDP). In iLembe, rural areas are being uplifted with new roads, housing, bridges, schools, water and electricity infrastructure, Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, clinics, halls, government service centres, sports fields and more.
These rural areas are receiving services they never imagined they would see. However, there is still a long way to go in developing KZN’s rural communities and economy.
Sadly, the failures in iLembe are over-shadowing any successes. While services are being brought to communities, the quality of many projects is sub-standard with poor workmanship and inferior quality materials being used by contractors. The worst part is the failure by project managers to ensure continued oversight – most importantly before signing off on completed projects. It is evident that many project managers are employed in these positions despite a lack of knowledge, understanding, skill and/or experience.
Poor workmanship has become the order of the day on most of these infrastructure projects, with substandard and inferior building materials being used. As a result, the first heavy rains cause severe damage and massive washaways with bridges, pathways, houses, halls and many other critical infrastructures.
While there are water infrastructure projects – some complete and others incomplete – residents remain dependent on weekly water tankers as their source of supply. This has become another contentious issue with water tankers not always available due to budgetary constraints as well as political interference.
Construction mafia, in the form of business forums, are another growing concern for Ilembe municipalities, causing major delays with project delivery and making impossible demands on government projects. This needs to be stopped as a matter of urgency. Government can no longer allow criminals to hamper service delivery to our people and there must be a whole-of- society approach to end such activity.
Some of the issues raised during engagements with iLembe communities include;
• Slow progress on housing project delivery, mostly due to delays or incapable contractors
• Limited or no access to water, despite millions of Rands already being spent on water infrastructure projects
• Inadequate road infrastructure – while roads are being improved there is a lot more that needs to be done. Some projects could not be accessed by oversight teams due to poor road infrastructure
• Poor police services due to distances from police stations, or a lack of will by police to act on crime reports by communities and;
• Lack of youth development, a lack of proper support for SMME’s and much more.
If these were DA-run municipalities they would be run very differently. The mayors in Ilembe municipalities should learn from the DA, as part of the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), Mayor Chris Pappas in uMngeni municipality.
Since taking office in November 2022, Mayor Pappas has turned uMngeni municipality around. He started by reducing municipal debt within the first year of administration and also reduced the huge electricity theft problem, costing millions of Rands every year. Mayor Pappas has strengthened internal controls and consequence management, something severely lacking in iLembe municipalities. He also implemented the restoration process of internal processes, policies and procedures and is building the capacity and quality of staff skills.
The cornerstone of good governance is a transparent, responsive and caring government. uMngeni municipality has drastically increased the number of residents that receive free basic services by thousands.
As GPU partners, iLembe’s mayors need to learn how to properly govern their municipalities in order to turn them around. Simply delivering services in the form of projects is not a sustainable form of governance or development. More than ever before, KZN must develop a capable state – one where planning, budgeting and decisive long-lasting infrastructure is provided without interference and prejudice.
There can be no doubt that rural development has the potential to unlock whole new regional economies. But the backbone of this is roads, water and electricity. The DA wants to see a comprehensive rural development plan rolled out this parliamentary term – one where back to basic items are ticked off once and for all.
KZN’s GPU must address the concerns highlighted as a result of iLembe oversights, for the betterment of our people and the economy. The people of KZN deserve better. This requires a government that works together towards building a capable and ethical state.