ZDM terminates water tanker contract in Pongola

Lolo Madonsela

Zululand District Municipality (ZDM) acted swiftly and terminated a contract with a service provider that was found spilling water at the side of the road; water that was meant for the community of Pongola this past week.
The MEC of CoGTA, as well as the community and political parties (such as the EFF and ANC), had called for an investigation into the matter and requested the municipality to take the necessary steps against the service provider.
The EFF in Zululand had stated that the contract between the service provider and ZDM ended in June this year. ZDM Municipal Manager Zamani Mcineka indicated that the contract was on an interim basis.
“The service provider’s interim arrangement with the municipality has been terminated with immediate effect, pending the outcome of a detailed investigation of the alleged offence. Once the investigation is concluded, a detailed report will be forwarded to the mayor. The municipality will not tolerate any form of corrupt activity intended to defraud the municipality and residents of Zululand,” said Mcineka. The ANC Mzala Nxumalo Region applauded the municipality for acting swiftly in this matter.

Also read: KZN CoGTA MEC deploys additional water tankers to municipalities

“We also note, through the response from the management of ZDM, actions they have already taken in addressing the thuggery of its contractors. We can only hope that the investigation will be expeditiously done and completed, because we cannot afford to be serviced by such heartless people,” said ANC Regional Secretary Zakes Buthelezi.
Buthelezi then took a ‘swing’ at the EFF for allegedly accusing the ANC of this incident, calling the EFF opportunistic. “We have observed the opportunistic and infantile behaviour of the EFF in accusing the ANC of the said incident. We are not surprised by their posture, which is consistent with their unprincipled and bigoted approach in dealing with critical issues. It is public knowledge that Zululand District Municipality is led by the IFP, with the help of the very same EFF. We view this as cheap politicking from a bunch of hypocrites who, together with the IFP, must be held to account for the dire state of the district municipality. It came as no surprise to us that the EFF voted with the IFP in trying to block implementation of the Section 106 forensic report into maladministration, fraud and corruption at ZDM,” added Buthelezi.
EFF Regional Chairperson Thulani Ndlovu responded by saying that, “The ANC is in power in KZN; therefore what happened in Pongolo should fall on their shoulders. Our voting with the IFP is our right; every member takes a directive from its caucus and agrees in principle that if what is brought onto the table makes sense, then we vote with other parties. Even the ANC itself does vote with other parties; it is nothing unheard of.”
ZDM has called on the public to report any corrupt behaviour to Mr Johan Jordaan on 083-793-8030 or Mr Sibongiseni Mosia on 083-363-6916.

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