Crime, power failures and water provision are the main challenges faced by iLembe residents.
This was acknowledged by deputy health minister Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo in his capacity as national district development model (DDM) champion at a media briefing at the New Covenant Fellowship Church in KwaDukuza last Friday.
He was reporting on the outcomes of the public service week which focused on the strengthening of the DDM within the iLembe family of municipalities – Mandeni, Ndwedwe, KwaDukuza and Maphumulo.
Dr Dhlomo said the DDM plan was a resolution of the 2019 presidential budget speech, in which the president identified the pattern of operating in silos as a challenge which led to a lack of coherence in planning and implementation of service delivery.
“The consequence has been underperformance of services and a diminished impact on addressing the triple challenges of eradicating poverty and inequality and boosting employment. The district is now in a process of preparing a long-term comprehensive plan.”
He said the “DDM One Plan” is a 25- to 30-year strategic plan to develop iLembe and the four local municipalities as one integrated area.
During the public service week, several projects were visited to address shortcomings, including four electrical substations in KwaDukuza and the Maphumulo waterworks.
“At the waterworks difficulties include unreliable power supply resulting in water supply interruptions, theft and vandalism of infrastructure as well as water loss. To address these problems, Umgeni Water has since brought in generators, but one has already been vandalised and its battery and wires stolen. Installing generators is expected to be completed by the end of December,” said Dhlomo.
In Mandeni projects visited included slum clearance, an integrated residential development project in Inyoni and the youth enterprise park project in Sundumbili.
Upon completion the residential project will boast 3 020 units. The project experienced delays because of a water use license authorisation (WULA) which was only granted in June 2021.
The park will accommodate youth enterprises in a structured marketplace to stimulate entrepreneurial opportunities and will include retail spaces, IT Café offices and ablution blocks.
The project was also repeatedly delayed, but construction is now partially completed with minor complications to be eliminated.
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