DA leader in eThekwini, Thabani Mthethwa, blames IFP leader Mdu Nkosi for the persisting water crisis. Picture: Willem Phungula
In what could strain the longstanding relationship between the Democratic Alliance and Inkatha Freedom Party, the DA in eThekwini has called for the resignation of IFP caucus leader Mdu Nkosi as a political head of Water and Sanitation.
Following the formation of Provincial Government of Unity between ANC and IFP, the ANC-led eThekwini Municipality reconfigured the Human Settlement and Infrastructure Committee and created a new unit, Trading Services, which was given to Nkosi.
Under this unit, there is water, sanitation, cleansing, and solid waste services.
Speaking at a media breakfast on Wednesday morning, the DA’s caucus leader, Thabani Mthethwa, blamed Nkosi for the persisting water challenges that besiege the city, saying it was because Nkosi was incompetent and has no idea what needed to be done in the unit since he lacked engineering knowledge.
“Nkosi is supposed to be leading from the front as the political head of this critical unit but since his appointment last year, he never said a word about the persisting water challenges, let alone being seen on the ground interacting with the affected communities providing solutions.
“This is because he knows nothing about engineering, so he must resign and the committee must be headed by someone with expertise,” said Mthethwa.
Hitting back, Nkosi described the DA’s attack as a desperate attempt to use the water crisis for cheap political point-scoring, saying this comes after the presentation was made in the Executive Committee meeting which included details of repairing and expanding infrastructure as well as historic lack of maintenance and repairs of natural disasters.
Furthermore, Nkosi said it is acknowledged that there is a water crisis facing the city which will take commitment, dedication, facing the real hard facts, and finding working solutions to the existing problem.
He stated that the repairs of water infrastructure will take time and interim solutions, including provision of water tankers, are in place to assist communities in need.
“It is indeed disheartening that when we are giving our everything to ensure that there is a stable and clean water supply for all eThekwini residents, that a fellow councillor stoops to the personal level,” said Nkosi.
DA and IFP have a longstanding working relationship, particularly in municipalities in KwaZulu-Natal.
willem.phungula@inl.co.za