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The recent severe flooding in KwaZulu-Natal has once again highlighted the eThekwini Municipality's gross negligence and failure to address critical infrastructure issues.

The eThekwini Municipality must take immediate and decisive action to upgrade stormwater capacity, unblock drains, and relocate residents from floodplains to prevent further tragedies. We demand that the eThekwini Municipality prioritise the safety and well-being of its residents by implementing comprehensive and sustainable solutions to address the ongoing flooding crisis.

A DA-led government would take the following measures to prevent flooding and loss of life:

• Urgently upgrade stormwater infrastructure and invest in modernizing and expanding the stormwater drainage systems to handle heavy rainfall and prevent blockages.

• Regular preventative maintenance: implement a rigorous schedule for cleaning and maintaining drainage systems to ensure they remain unblocked and functional across the city.

• Relocate residents: proactively relocate residents living in flood-prone areas to safer locations, reducing the risk of loss of life and property damage.

• Public-Private partnerships: collaborate with private sector partners to leverage resources and expertise in addressing infrastructure challenges and improving service delivery.

• Emergency response: establish a robust emergency response system to provide immediate assistance and relief to affected residents during flooding events.

This past weekend, multiple scenarios played out where vehicles were submerged or swept away, due to blocked drainage systems that failed to cope with the heavy downpour. People were home-stricken as houses were flooded and sewage manholes spewed disgusting waste onto the streets.

This is a stark reminder of the municipality's ongoing failure to maintain and upgrade essential infrastructure.

Last month February 2025, the National Treasury called on the municipality to motivate why the city should not lose part of R3,2 billion in grants due to underperformance. The money includes R800 million in unspent transport and township infrastructure grants.

The municipality has also not been able to call out and pay plumbers contracted to the Municipality due to unavailability of money to pay them.

The eThekwini Municipality's failure to act has put countless lives at risk and caused untold damage to property and infrastructure. It is unacceptable that residents continue to suffer due to the municipality's incompetence and lack of accountability.

We urge the eThekwini Municipality to adopt these measures and take immediate action to protect the lives and property of residents.

Issued by Councillor Yogis Govender - DA eThekwini EXCO Member