The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Msunduzi has written to the Office of the Premier to raise grave concerns about the ongoing collapse of Msunduzi Municipality (view letter here).
Despite the establishment of the Premier’s Working Group for Msunduzi, the city continues to experience devastating decline in both service delivery and financial stability.
Key issues include:
1. Financial Crisis – A ballooning debtor’s book, especially with bulk service providers, coupled with poor financial management, a lack of transparency, and a flawed billing and credit control system that continues to fuel public outrage.
2. Waste Management & Labour Unrest – Weekly service delivery disruptions due to the ongoing waste management crisis and recurring labour protests.
3. Poor Leadership & Governance – Continued poor decision-making at leadership and Troika level has further damaged the municipality’s credibility and reputation.
4. Ineffective Interventions – CoGTA’s deployment of a “CoGTA Expert” has failed to deliver tangible results. No regular updates have been provided, no clear presence exists within Council structures, and the terms of reference remain vague and unenforced.
The DA has urged the Premier’s office to ensure full openness and transparency in reporting from the Working Group, including monthly feedback reports that outline actions taken and measurable progress, broken down by department.
Msunduzi is on the brink of total collapse. Without immediate and aggressive intervention, the municipality risks reaching a point beyond repair. The DA will continue to hold both the provincial government and local leadership accountable to ensure that residents of Msunduzi receive the services they deserve.