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Remarks made by President Cyril Ramaphosa about eThekwini during his State of the Nation Address (SONA) suggest a lack of awareness regarding the current challenges facing the city.

The DA in KwaZulu-Natal is therefore urging the President to visit communities in order to gain a clearer understanding of the true state of the city.

While we welcome the Presidential eThekwini Working Group and the removal of the former Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda, there is still no change on the ground. If anything, it has regressed. Although the President seems to think everything is in order, "Rome continues to burn."

Residents across the city are faced with constant water outages with no resolve. The water tankers that the City provides are marred with allegations of sabotage and corruption. A select few, those that are politically connected are taking advantage of the situation. The DA has continuously called for the “tanker mafia” to be investigated, but our calls have fallen on deaf ears.

The eThekwini “Metro” can barely afford to provide residents with an uninterrupted supply of clean water.

The eThekwini City Manager, Musa Mbhele is at the centre of the water crisis. He has no will to fix the current crisis, this which has left the DA with no choice but to call for his resignation or removal. We are calling on the ANC to remove him and replace him with a fit for purpose City Manager that will put the interests of the residents and the City first.

DA Councillors are under attack due to the failures of the City to deliver basic services. A situation the President clearly knows nothing about.

There is no great progress in eThekwini. The DA has also called for the Head of Water and Sanitation to resign and currently have a court case against the municipality over the quality of water.

The DA continues to fight for all residents of eThekwini and will ensure all spheres of government are implored for further intervention.

Issued by Francois Rodgers, MPL - DA KZN Leader