EThekwini Municipality held an Executive Committee Meeting (Exco) today, 06 September, convened and chaired by eThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda.

 

The purpose of the special Exco was to update the City’s leadership on recent service delivery matters and the relevant departments’ response to them.

 

The following issues were presented:

 

 

The City’s water and sanitation infrastructure was extensively damaged after the April floods. Unrelenting demand, aging infrastructure and rampant vandalism have worsened the situation, leaving the Water and Sanitation Unit with insufficient capacity to render adequate service delivery.  

 

The Head of Water and Sanitation, Ednick Msweli, however outlined comprehensive interventions. An update to the existing 25-year masterplan is underway. It will provide on an ongoing basis for the planning and budgeting for upgrades, new infrastructure and other interventions. This is aimed at improving water conveyance and treatment.

 

Speaking on the recent circulation of fake news about water contamination, Msweli pointed out that the City has an accredited inhouse water Laboratory. Daily testing reflects that the water supply is safe and meets the Integrated Regulatory Information System (IRIS) drinking water standards. This has also been affirmed by the independent testing done by the Institute for Water and Wastewater Technology at the Durban University of Technology earlier this week.

 

There is good progress to finalise projects already under way. The relining of the Durban Heights Reservoir 3 is expected to be completed in November. The Umbumbulu Pump Station is planned to be commissioned by end of September 2022. For the Southern Aqueduct, contractors are expected to be appointed by end of this month. The Nagle Aqueduct Repairs the site has been establishment by the contractor and is 90% completed while the restoration of the Tongaat Waterworks is expected to be completed in October.  

 

Other projects include the R24 billion Umkomazi project, the appointment of a contractor for the Durban Water Recycling and a feasibility study of the Northern and KwaMashu Wastewater Treatment Works.

 

Water provision as of 5 September 2022 is as follows:

• Inner West Region, 95%, Botha’s Hill System

• Outer West Region, 85%. Georgedale, KwaXimba, and Mkhizwana Systems

• Central Region, 90%, Northdene System (Chats, Klaarwater, Demat)

• South Region, 80%, Umlazi 2, Adams and Folweni Systems

• North Region, 60%, Hazelmere, Grange, Trenance, Ntuzuma, and Tongaat Systems

 

 

 

Regarding waste management, the city acknowledged that following challenges which contribute to the city poor waste management:  

· Aging fleet which is prone to constant breakdowns  

· Staff shortages which lead to increase in overtime

· A culture of littering  

 

To address the challenge of staff shortages, the municipality took a decision in the current financial to cut overtime by 50% and utilize that funding to fill all vacant posts. The recruitment process is currently underway.  

 

On the issue of aging fleet, the municipality has invested over R400 million since 2019 to procure new Durban Solid Waste fleet. Most of the fleet has been delivered and is operating in various communities.  

 

Apart from these interventions, the city will embark on mass clean-up and educational campaigns to rid the city of illegal dumping sites from the CBD to residential areas.  

 

Communities and business are encouraged to clean their environment and immediate surroundings.  The City also encourages Provincial Government, National Government and state entities to play their part in cleaning their property such as railway lines.  

 

 

The Head of Electricity Maxwell Mthembu updated the committee on the strike action by electricity staff that took place last Friday, 02 September 2022. The uproar was as a result of overtime cuts. The matter is being dealt with and the City remains steadfast in its approach to action consequence management and will stick to the law of no work no pay for any staff that engage in illegal strike action.

 

 

Much progress has been made on closing mass care centres that were used to house displaced flood victims. Initially 120 care centres were opened to house 3999 households this has been reduced to 70 currently in place.  

Mass care centres were closed through various initiatives such as:  

· Material supply option

· Combining mass care centres that are close to each other.

· Extend existing transit camps

· Renovations of existing government buildings

· Building of TRA’s

 

Some of the challenges of relocating the families are;  

· Refusal of people to move out of mass care centres

· Invasions and social instability in some areas

· Slow progress on approval by Auditor General in terms of real time audit.

· Protracted SCM and planning processes

· Limited suitable land parcels

 

To fast track the process the city is acquiring private and government owned buildings which will be renovated to provide a rental accommodation scheme.  

 

ENDS

Issued by the eThekwini Municipality’s Communications Unit. For media enquiries contact the Municipality’s Spokesperson, Msawakhe Mayisela on 060 966 4220.