Dotted across the roads in and around Estcourt are the ‘scars’ left behind after repairs to water and sewage lines.
The question of who shoulders the responsibility for road repairs has been one that residents have often asked district and municipal officials during community meetings.
When querying from both the district and local municipalities last year, uThukela District Municipality (whose staff would dig and repair the pipes) said they were in the process of engaging with the local municipality to negotiate on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
After waiting months for feedback about the progress of the MoU, the district municipality finally responded recently.
Communications manager Jabulani Mkhonza said that both municipalities had approved of the MoU, but the next step was out of their hands for now.
“The main challenge we are facing is that the District Development Model (DDM) is unable to sit frequently to discuss pressing matters. The DDM is a structure formed by all the municipalities, including all relevant stakeholders, under the Uthukela District that seeks to ensure that local government is capacitated and transformed to play a developmental role,” Mkhonza explained.
This has caused a hiccup in the process.
“This has left the two municipalities being unable to do what they are supposed to do in order to move forward, but I can assure you that this issue will be discussed and dealt with once the DDM has sat,” added Mkhonza.
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