eThekwini leaders address ratepayers’ concerns

THE eThekwini Municipality’s leadership, including Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba and Speaker of Council Councillor Thabani Nyawose, held a meeting with local ratepayers’ associations to provide an update on service delivery and introduce the new mayor to the community.

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This engagement follows a previous meeting in April where ratepayers highlighted several pressing issues. These included discrepancies in billing due to unread meters; delays in issuing rate clearance certificates; concerns over beach water quality; intermittent water supply in northern areas, and the performance of the municipal contact centre. The effectiveness of streetlights was also a topic of concern.

A new service provider has been appointed to ensure regular meter readings, which will lead to a new, user-friendly monthly billing format by November. Ratepayers are encouraged to use the Municipal App to manage their meter readings, report faults and access their bills more conveniently.

On water supply challenges, Xaba said that the municipality faces a situation where demand exceeds the current supply.

“To mitigate this, the municipality is reducing non-revenue water through leak repairs, illegal connection removals and meter installations. Additionally, the City, in partnership with the Department of Water and Sanitation and uMngeni-uThukela Water, has launched a R28-billion construction of the upper Umkhomazi Dam,” the municipality said in a statement.

Xaba said, “We have an obligation to listen to our ratepayers because we want them to be happy customers. Together, we can make this city work, not only for us but also for future generations. Therefore, we are saying, we are on this ship together.”

He reassured residents of strengthened law enforcement efforts, including recruiting additional police officers to enhance safety. He emphasised the importance of consequence management and financial prudence to ensure effective use of resources and value for money.

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Chairperson for the Bluff Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association Norman Gilbert said, “We acknowledge the substantial effort invested recently, however, we must persist in our vigilance and continual enhancement. The City is dedicated to addressing all concerns with the utmost seriousness, conducting comprehensive investigations, and implementing effective solutions to preclude recurrence. We plan to deploy advanced technology to optimise meter reading processes and detect fraudulent activities, thereby ensuring precise billing.”

He said the association will collaborate with law enforcement agencies to bolster public safety, curtail crime, and maintain a pristine and appealing urban environment.

“We will prioritise prudent expenditure, enforce accountability and maximise value for every rand allocated. We aim to reduce water losses, upgrade infrastructure and ensure efficient maintenance to preserve resources effectively,” said Gilbert.

He said the association will continue to implement and refine these key strategic areas, pursue ongoing engagement with investors to secure funding and support, and foster a conducive business environment to encourage economic growth and prosperity.

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