DURBAN - KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala has demanded answers and accountability from responsible officials and community leaders following the discovery of a fresh produce tunnel that is incomplete after an investment of about R8 million.
The abandoned tunnel project, launched in 2020, was found during Operation Sukuma Sakhe, an oversight visit in the KwaMaphumulo Local Municipality in Ilembe District by Zikalala.
The project was led by local co-operatives and supported by the government who assisted with infrastructure but also mentorship and potential markets such as schools, hospitals and local enterprises.
“The project is strategically located not too far from the Dube Trade Port for ease of exporting to international markets but appears to have turned into a white elephant of wasted precious government investment,” Zikalala said.
It was believed the project collapsed due to internal squabbles over its ownership and control, leading to the multimillion-rand investment going down the drain, Zikalala added.
He expressed concern that the project amounted to wasteful expenditure, and was testament to poor management and an absolute lack of accountability.
“This was a project of dreams, prosperity and economic transformation. Sadly today it lies idle as a burial ground of the dreams of the community. We want projects like this to unlock opportunities and lead to economic transformation as part of the next phase of our struggle for economic liberation. We therefore frown at what we are seeing here as it amounts to an assault on radical socio-economic transformation,” Zikalala said.
He said government officials were on the ground assessing the living conditions of communities and examining if government projects were making an impact in changing people’s lives.
Zikalala has tasked the iLembe Enterprise, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the municipality to provide a comprehensive report and a turnaround time. He said the project must still deliver on the opportunities and unleash the economic dreams of the rural people of eMambedwini in ward 9 of KwaMaphumulo.
KwaMaphumulo Local Municipality has been in the spotlight recently following water scarcity issues, recent storm damage to road infrastructure affecting the R74, which is the main corridor for the locals, as well as a number of crime-related cases and social ills.
Zikalala also visited water reticulation plants, reservoirs, newly constructed bridges and roads and engaged with community members to listen to their concerns, comments and complaints.
Zikalala inspected the R100m Mvutshana Water Treatments Works and Reservoirs which, by providing water, has significantly changed the lives of the rural people of KwaMaphumulo.
Zikalala said the plant will be upgraded with a further R276m which will increase by around 100% its current 6 mega litres to about 12 mega litres. He said all challenges identified during Operation Sukuma Sakhe will be responded to through the ward-based war rooms which are located in communities and respond to daily issues affecting them.
Among the key strategic projects to be delivered in iLembe District, especially KwaMaphumulo and Indwedwe, are: uMshwathi Bulk Water Supply Phase 4 to the tune R700m; uMshwathi Bulk Supply Phase 5, to cost R200m; and uMshwathi Bulk Phase 6 which will cost R300m.
These projects will be delivered in phases and will breathe life into the provincial priorities as announced by Zikalala during the State of the Province Address, which identified water provision as a key priority in the province.
It’s expected that through these projects the water woes of the people of KwaMaphumulo and Ndwedwe will be a thing of the past.
Daily News