Letters | Failing city

The shocking revelations before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) regarding the state of Msunduzi Municipality should outrage every resident and ratepayer of this city. According to The Witness on May 28, Msunduzi has again been dragged before Parliament over its financial and governance failures. Particularly disturbing is the revelation that a 16-member delegation travelled to Cape Town at huge cost to taxpayers when only a handful of officials were necessary.

At a time when the municipality is financially crippled, this reflects a culture of entitlement and contempt for struggling residents burdened by collapsing services and rising costs. Even more alarming is the municipality’s fruitless and wasteful expenditure, now approaching a quarter of a billion rand. This points to sustained financial negligence, weak internal controls and a failure of oversight in the municipality and at provincial level.

Who allowed this crisis to escalate, and who will be held accountable? The municipality’s inability to pay creditors within a reasonable period further demonstrates the extent of the collapse. Businesses cannot survive under such conditions and reputable service providers will inevitably avoid engaging with the municipality.

[paywall]

Residents are already suffering the consequences. Across the city, refuse remains piled on pavements for weeks. Reports suggest that many refuse trucks are dysfunctional, with no funds for repairs.

This is a public health crisis. Equally disappointing is the political opportunism unfolding. Citizens must be told plainly why refuse collection has collapsed and what immediate measures are being implemented to prevent a complete sanitation disaster.

[/paywall]