ActionSA accuses DA and uMngeni Municipality Mayor, Chris Pappas, of failing to address severe sewerage contamination. Picture: Supplied / File
ActionSA has expressed concern over the ongoing sewerage crisis in uMngeni Municipality, highlighting the inadequacy of responses from Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Dean Macpherson and uMngeni Mayor, Chris Pappas.
This comes after ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip has said the party is deeply concerned about the severe water crisis in eThekwini, where 55% of the population is without water and relying on tankers.
According to ActionSA provincial chairperson Zwakele Mncwango, the party reiterates it leader Trollip’s call for an immediate investigation into the issue.
Earlier on IOL reported that Pappas denied the claims that it misled the public by falsely attributing the ongoing water crisis in eThekwini to the uMngeni municipality.
The sewerage crisis is severely affecting water supply to the eThekwini metro, posing significant health risks to residents, he said.
While it's acknowledged that the management of dams and major water infrastructure falls outside the jurisdiction of uMngeni Municipality, the contamination of the water supply is undeniable.
ActionSA said neither Macpherson nor Pappas has disputed the existence of the severe sewerage spill.
Instead, their focus has been on shifting blame rather than addressing the pressing issue, he said.
Mncwango criticised Pappas for his passive stance and failure to address the crisis effectively.
"Pappas’s attempts to avoid accountability are deeply concerning. As a leader, he has a duty to tackle the issue head-on and co-ordinate with relevant entities such as uMngeni-Uthukela Water and Eskom if needed," Mncwango said.
Mncwango said the contamination has resulted in algae growth and further pollution of the water supply, leaving residents exposed to potentially hazardous drinking water.
Mncwango said ActionSA calls on Pappas to notify uMgungundlovu District Municipality and uMngeni-Uthukela Water to ensure swift action. His inaction has left residents vulnerable to health risks, he said.
ActionSA has also questioned the DA's commitment to transparency, noting that while the DA positions itself as a proponent of openness, the public remains uninformed about the severity of the situation.
Pappas’s failure to address the spillage openly and his shifting of blame raise concerns about his leadership and the DA’s commitment to resolving the crisis it says.
Furthermore, Mncwango says Trollip has responded to this situation by requesting an independent investigation to hold those political parties accountable and identify the source of the contamination.
“This investigation will reveal the responsible parties and ensure that those guilty are held accountable.’’
Mncwango said ActionSA supports this call for transparency and swift action to address the issue.
“The eThekwini and uMngeni deserve transparency and swift action,’’ he said.
In addition, ActionSA dismisses repeated false claims by Macpherson about the party’s alleged affiliation with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), emphasising that ActionSA is not in coalition with the EFF.
The party regards Macpherson’s allegations as a diversion from the DA’s own political entanglements with other parties in eThekwini.
‘’His baseless allegations are nothing more than a diversion from the DA’s own political entanglements with the African National Congress (ANC), EFF and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in eThekwini.
‘’We will not be drawn to his cheap political games,’’ he said.
IOL Politics
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