Water crisis: Ugu ‘has simply failed its people’ – Cogta
The report which the municipality presented was not accepted and was disregarded as it was not a true reflection of what the situation on the ground was like.
The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) today (Friday) received a briefing by the Ugu District Municipality on the water crisis in the district.
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The following statement has been released by the committee:
“The committee received a petition from MPL Dr Rishigen Viranna of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature in February this year regarding the water crisis at Ugu District Municipality. Ugu DM was prioritised from among the other ailing municipalities in the country to be heard today.
The report which the municipality presented was not accepted and was disregarded as it was not a true reflection of what the situation on the ground was like. One of the members of the committee questioned the municipality as to the reasons why 121 staff members were dismissed and why 14 shop stewards were criminally charged which negatively affected the municipality’s functionality.
The committee questioned why the municipal manager was on sick leave for an extended period as the issue of sabotage came up, financial irregularities, ineffective leadership and allegations of corruption amongst others.
The Committee has requested the municipality to devise and submit a Master Plan by 20 March 2020 together with a comprehensive report in response to the questions asked by the members.
The acting municipal manager and district mayor will be held accountable by the committee. The chairperson, Faith Muthambi said,”Every municipality is experiencing difficulty due to the drought and the failure to provide water, however this municipality has simply failed its people”.
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