eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba has publicly called on KZN MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure, Martin Meyer, to settle more than R500 million in outstanding municipal rates owed to the City. Xaba went on to accuse the department of crippling infrastructure recovery while criticising service delivery. According to the municipality, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has formally acknowledged the debt, yet continues to delay payment, a delay Xaba says directly affects the City’s ability to maintain infrastructure across Durban.
Xaba took aim at the Democratic Alliance (DA), saying it could not continue to condemn service delivery failures in eThekwini while “its own deployee in government drags his feet on a debt that could help fix exactly what they complain about”. At the same time, Xaba said DA leaders were running a “misinformation campaign” over beach water quality results while avoiding the issue of the multimillion-rand debt. These funds could significantly improve our infrastructure.
We call on the DA to be truthful and honest with the public. Xaba challenged DA councillors to either disclose the source of their water testing claims or “shut up”, saying they were opportunistically using selective information for political point-scoring. “Since assuming office, I have committed to running a clean and transparent government.
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It is unfortunate that the DA selectively uses information we make available for cheap political gain,” said Xaba. The mayor said the municipality was intensifying efforts to recover all money owed, including by businesses, residents and state entities. Measures include credit control, disconnections and referring debt to collectors.
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