KZN COGTA to take action against Umdoni Local Municipality over service delivery concerns

DURBAN - The KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Department says it will take action against the Umdoni Local Municipality, following a rise in service delivery concerns from residents.

 MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi addressed residents and some municipal workers on Monday morning.

This comes after a three-weeklong blockade at the municipality offices by the protesters demanding improved service delivery.

Buthelezi has also vowed to restore order in the community along the province's south coast.

He said the municipality had failed to abide by the oath of office to deliver services to the communities they serve.

Taps have been running dry, he said, because some allegedly benefit from water tankers.

"The major issue here is that there is an issue of water supply. In all the 19 wards and instead of water being supplied the municipality is hiring water tankers, and the allegation is that they are benefiting from the hiring of the tankers. That is a very serious allegation that will be looking into."

He added that the municipal workers also failed to communicate with communities about some of the issues facing the town.

"The rubbish has not been collected, the town hall has been invaded by vagrancy and there is general decline over a period of time-of-service delivery."

Buthelezi said the department will soon be taking remedial action in this regard.