Chairperson, I move without notice:
That the Council -
1) notes with great concern the worsening water crisis throughout the entire Ugu District Municipality, which has plagued over 200 000
residents across four municipalities, the majority of which are poor, elderly and vulnerable;
2) further notes that economic activities in the district including industry, agriculture, and tourism, have been severely affected leading to over 30 000 direct or indirect job losses over the last three years;
3) furthermore, notes that health services at St Andrews, Murchison and Port Shepstone Regional hospitals have been severely curtailed leading to delays in surgeries, inadequate hygiene facilities and even a lack of water for patients to drink;
4) also notes that recently released Tsalach Report exposed massive corruption relating to water and sanitation contracts. Indeed, the municipal manager Naidoo has been suspended due to his alleged corrupt involvement and personally benefitting from tender awarding;
5) notes that the district municipality has presided over the complete collapse of the billing system, which has reduced the revenue stream to a mere trickle;
6) further notes that numerous incidents of sabotage to vital water infrastructure. Despite cases being opened with the SA Police Service there has been no progress on investigations and zero arrests;
7) calls on the Minister of Police to immediately deploy a team of experienced investigators and crime intelligence officers to assist in the prevention, arrest and conviction of those involved in the municipal infrastructure sabotage;
8) further calls on the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Cogta, to immediately place water management system in Ray Nkodeni Municipality under the control of the uMngeni Water Board; and
9) calls on the Minister of Cogta to immediately place the Ugu District Municipality under section 139(5)(a) administration to resolve the financial situation and restore functional water services.
Motion agreed to in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.