A PARLIAMENTARY reply to questions posed by the DA has revealed that KwaZulu-Natal’s Department of Public Works owes a staggering R63 million to 29 of the province’s municipalities.
According to the July 2019 response from KZN Public Works MEC, Peggy Nkonyeni, more than R46 million of the amount has been outstanding for over 150 days.
The affected municipalities listed includes the eThekwini metro.
Martin Meyer MPL, DA KZN Spokesperson on Public Works, said the DA regards it as inconceivable that, while so many of KZN’s municipalities are struggling to literally keep the lights on, the biggest culprit when it comes to paying the bill on time is a provincial department.
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“The DA in KwaZulu-Natal will take this fight to KZN Public Works MEC, Peggy Nkonyeni. We expect that she and her Department take immediate steps to address the matter of monies owed to municipalities. The provincial government cannot be one of the main contributors to our municipalities woes. It is also unacceptable that while residents and businesses are expected to always pay their utilities and rates on time or face having their services cut, that KZN’s government is allowed to have its debt spiral out of control without any action being taken. This is a slap in the face to every law-abiding citizen in our province,” said Meyer.
The DA will also appeal to KZN CoGTA MEC, Sipho Hlomuka, as the person responsible for the well-being and functionality of KZN’s municipalities, to intervene and demand payment of debt.
“Ultimately, it is not the MECs or the Premier or any of those in positions of power that are affected. Instead, it is the ordinary people of KZN who are not receiving basic services due to failing municipalities that suffer,” said Meyer.
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