DA calls for eThekwini municipality to be placed under administration

Democratic Alliance (DA) KZN premier candidate Zwakele Mncwango has called on the eThekwini municipality to be placed under administration.

In a statement on Monday, Mncwango said the call to place the municipality under administration was made during today’s Executive Committee meeting.

He said the party’s caucus leader, Nicole Graham, would be posing questions to mayor Zandile Gumede and city manager Sipho Nzuza on the state of the water department.

“Mayor Gumede and Mr Nzuza must provide timelines into resolving the water crisis and bring an end to the strike that is taking place,” Mncwango said.

He said the current strike by eThekwini Water employees was straining a number of communities who had gone for days without water.

“The current strike, fuelled by the city officials flouting the HR process in order to hire uMkhonto weSizwe veterans is an indication of an uncaring and selfish government, riddled with corruption. The hiring of MK veterans led to general staff being paid more than their senior counterparts, an issue union leaders called to be resolved, and were ignored.

“EThekwini Municipality under the poor leadership of mayor Zandile has created a lawless city. Her leadership saw the birth of Amadela Ngokubona, who were hell-bent on undermining supply chain processes,” Mncwango said.

He said the party further called on MEC for cooperative governance and traditional affairs Nomusa Dube-Ncube to intervene by instituting Section 139(1)b administration as provided for in the South African constitution.

“If we allow for the status quo to remain, there will be no city to govern, a stagnant economy and eventually a state of anarchy.

“It must be noted that a number of families are suffering from the recent floods, which in turn damaged a lot of water infrastructure. We call for an amicable solution for the interest of residents. The city must move forward and have its priorities straight, which is to deliver on basic services.”

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.