Ratepayers in Msunduzi have welcomed the idea of the Municipality being part of a metropolitan municipality but warb that this must be done in a cautious manner.
“The idea of a metro is great but the demarcation board must not rush to make it happen as it won't work. Msunduzi Municipality is a category B municipality and is completely dysfunctional,” said Anthony Waldhausen, Chairperson of the MARRC (Msunduzi Association of Residents, Ratepayers and Civics).
It emerged last week that the Municipal Demarcation Board could make an announcement before the 2026 local government elections, to amalgamate the Msunduzi and the Richmond municipalities to form a Metro.
Waldhausen said there were many problems that must first be addressed.
“We have too much political interference and cadre deployment. Senior management are deployed who don't have any qualifications and experience.There is low investor confidence in our municipality
“We have poor water and electricity infrastructure that hasn't been maintained. There is no turnaround plan to take the municipality out of the mess it is in at the moment,” he said.
Waldhausen added there was low revenue collection across the municipality where 70% of residents, businesses and some government departments can pay for municipal services but were not doing so. The municipality relied on only 30% for revenue collection.
He said this was just the tip of the iceberg and there was a long list of challenges which the municipality needed to address before thinking of metro status.
He claimed that Msunduzi did not have the resources, capacity, leadership or vision to become a successful metro.
“We also see that Richmond has its own challenges.There needs to be concerted effort by both the Msunduzi and Richmond municipalities to turn their fortunes and future around before thinking of metro status.
“We now see eThekwini municipality which is a metro which is on its way to collapse and can't be a beacon of hope for other municipalities to replicate, as municipalities across South Africa are failing,” Waldhausen said.
The Mercury