UMngeni-uThukela Water CEO defends board members’ fees after public outrage

uMngeni-uThukela Water CEO Sandile Mkhize has defended the board members’ fees amidst public backlash. The CEO of Umngeni Uthukela water board has defended the fees that have been claimed by the board members of the entity. Sandile Mkhize said the fees claimed and the numbers of meetings attended by the board are in line with the work that had to be and is being done by the entity.

His comments come after concerns were raised about the fees claimed by board members last year.Ratepayers and opposition parties balked at the fees, some running to more than a million rand, describing them as unjust and excessive. Speaking on Thursday during uMngeni-uThukela Water’s Annual Report 2024/2025 Financial Presentation at Radisson Blu hotel in Umhlanga, Mkhize said the board has 11 meetings instead of the normal six meetings that comprise of four normal meetings and two special meetings. “We are an entity in transition,” he said, adding that the amalgamation of uMngeni and uThukela Water entitieswasan intense process that required that the board members work overtime to ensure that the entity remains viable.

He added that he expects that as the entity becomes more stable as the organisation, the number of board meetings will reduce. Chairperson of the board Advocate Vusi Khuzwayo said they are committed to clean governance as the entity’s ability to raise funding to implement projectsdepends on its ability to manage its operations in a clean and transparent manner. For more stories from The Mercury, click the linkTHE MERCURY