THE Parliamentary COMMITTEE that oversees the operation of the Department of Co-operative Governance and Indigenous Affairs is not satisfied with the resolution of the problems plaguing the municipality which is the capital of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, Msunduzi.
The chairman of the committee, Dr. Zweli Mkhize, said that it has come to a point where they are wondering why the problems plaguing the municipality, which they have been complaining about for a long time, cannot be solved.
He said this while speaking to the media in Cape Town yesterday.
Mkhize said they started crying about the problems facing the municipality in 2024.
Mkhize revealed that they have met with the council officials twice and they have also asked the council officials to give them reports.
“We have been complaining about many of the problems reported in Msunduzi. Sometimes they tell us that there are measures they are taking. When we met with them for the first time, we were not satisfied with the answers they gave us. We ordered them to give us a written report.
“It has come to the point where we wonder why these problematic things are not fixed. As I said, we have been complaining about these things for a while. We will continue to ask questions. We will meet again with the municipal officials.”
Mkhize said there are many things they are unhappy about in Msunduzi.
“At the top of the complaints is the lack of delivery of services. There have been complaints about the city’s pollution for a long time. There is a lot that needs to be fixed. The financial situation is not good. There is a water problem. I live there in Msunduzi and I can tell you that many people suffer for water. There are complaints that the municipality leaves illegal immigrants to do what they want. All these things must be addressed.”
Mkhize said the committee is concerned about the council’s non-compliance.
Mkhize said that the number of municipalities that have received reports of non-compliance has decreased in the last financial year.
“Out of the eight municipalities that are city councils, not one of them has received an accurate report. Those municipalities are the ones that receive the largest share. There are a number of municipalities that have been receiving the same reports for a long time. This tells you that no efforts are being made to receive accurate reports.”
Mkhize also applauded the decision of the Treasury Department to withhold the budgets of the 69 municipalities in the country that are unable to manage money.
Those municipalities, of which there are seven in KwaZulu-Natal, will not receive their allocations for the quarter starting in July until they fix the problems they are complaining about.
Mkhize said the decision to withhold municipal allocations will ensure that councils follow the principles of public money management.