DEAR Editor,-
I was amused to read the report entitled ‘Ugu slammed for non-delivery’ (SCH January 3) with regards to the provision of water and sanitation in newly-built RDP houses on time.
These assertions by Peggy Nkonyeni sharpen the edge or irony with the fractured ANC critising the other faction of the ANC for non-delivery of homes, water and sanitation.
ALSO READ : Ugu District Municipality slammed for non-delivery
At provincial level, the ANC appoints all mayors and speakers at all district councils and municipalities within the province controlled by the ANC.
I have no way of telling whether she is or was a Zuma supporter or a Ramaphosa supporter. I can record that as an MEC she frequently fluttered from one portfolio to another and now serves in Public Works and Settlements.
The calamitous financial position of Ugu is well known. Council gets deeper into debt every single month with the bloated salary bill exceeding, by itself, the total income of the council from the sale of water and sanitation.
Every year the auditor-general decries excesses of irregular expenses as government grants, intended for capital projects including housing, water and sanitation, are used to pay creditors and salaries.
Reports about the possibility of a provincial administrator taking over at Ugu surfaced from time to time, but as a well-versed local commentator in these matters, stated provisional intervention is unlikely to be a shining knight on a white horse.
There are question marks about the previous actions of MEC Peggy Nkonyeni with allegations of corruption in a supply chain management matter in connection with equipment provided to government hospitals in KZN.
The matter seems to have gone quiet with the Zuma-appointed NPA in KZN being slow to pursue the matter further.
At the risk of being found to be grievously immodest, let me relate my personal experience as a councillor in both Ugu and Hibiscus Coast Municipalities (now Ray Nkonyeni Municipality), as Masinenge fell within my ward.
With the exception of December, every Tuesday afternoon and evening was spent in Masinenge attending to the interests of the residents who were provided with personal service for five years.
As ward councillor I was required to run a ward committee to submit monthly reports and agenda minutes to the council.
As reflected in the minutes, not a single month passed without me updating council about the snail-like developments at Masinenge.
The mayor, whose duties included the successful implementation of the ward committees system, stated that my ward committee was the most efficient of all.
I also covered Masinenge at the monthly portfolio committee of water and sanitation, and the council meeting as well if the opportunity presented itself.
I visited housing schemes north and south of Durban and submitted reports to council.
I was instrumental in the appointment of a tribunal to enable municipality to eliminate many of the building regulations that hold back housing developments with brick and mortar homes with water and sanitation.
The application was supported by the unanimous resolution from ward committee, consisting of both DA and ANC members and found favour with the tribunal.
It never happened. It may have been for political reasons that the project was discontinued, despite the approval of the tribunal that it may proceed, as the ANC were very reluctant to see the DA take a lead in the provision of proper houses in Masinenge.
DAVE SNASHALL
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