UMNGENI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

Updates on new developments from the Mayor.

Since Christopher Pappas, took to the platform of uMngeni Local Municipality Mayor on 22 November 2021, the Mayor has continued to address municipal matters with a proactive and transparent approach, updating citizens timeously on the work that is being done.

Having adopted a new vision that “By 2035, the uMngeni Municipality will be a beacon of excellence and efficiency, delivering quality

services, building safer communities and supporting sustainable socioeconomic development,” the Mayor listed the recent progress towards that goal as:

Roads and Storm Water

The Mayor recognised that the rain is the biggest and most expensive challenge related to road and storm water damage at the municipality. He

added that this year the municipality has already doubled the roads budget, which has improved their ability to address the pending backlog.

He stated that the municipality’s focus is to ensure that the main routes and secondary roads are maintained and in good condition. In addition to this, the municipality would systematically address potholes and completing surfaces.

The Mayor noted that the challenges faced along the way were due to the continuous rain in the province that prevented work being done in a timely manner.

Another challenge was the many roads in the municipality that have not been built with strong foundations. This means that when repairs are done, the scope of the work increases to include rebuilding foundations and sub-soil drainage. The Mayor said that in following years, the municipality would strategically shift municipal resources to put more focus on road repairs in winter months.

Waste

According to the Mayor the municipality is going through a process of restructuring their waste management and reducing a substantial overtime bill. He stated that it may lead to some delays and backlogs as the system adjusts to a new work schedule, and restrictions, such as that of the closure of the recycling facility on Sundays, would be evidenced.

In apologising in advance for any disruptions that the citizens of uMngeni would experience, the Mayor stated that this was necessary in the interim while the municipality

addresses the huge overtime bill that the municipality is faced with. In managing its waste, the municipality has also transferred its landfill site from the Waste sub-

directorate to the Infrastructure and Public Works directorate because of the engineering required to maintain the landfill site. “The waste is the simple part, it is the engineering behind the site that is more complicated,” explained the Mayor.

Electricity

Mayor Pappas explained that the municipality has lost R19 million since July 2022 in stolen electricity. He stated that the municipality is making some strides in reducing yearly losses and this was confirmed by the Auditor General as well as their own mid-year budget assessments. He highlighted that the municipality will never reduce their losses to zero due to normal technical losses which occur, however he stated that the municipality will continue to work to cut illegal usage.

In stating that the municipality had made some progress in reducing the amount of money owed, he also noted that there is still R250 million in monies outstanding. He said that although some of their interventions may not be popular, they are necessary if the municipality is to deliver services in a sustainable manner.

Solar Power

A part of its plan to improve the lives of its citizens, the uMngeni Municipality announced a solar project last year that would electrify

the Shiyabazali informal settlements at a cost of over R4 million. The project is wholly funded by the Dept of Energy is aimed at improving living conditions in the informal settlement and provided 522 units which included: a panel, battery pack, six lights and a cellphone charger. High mast lights have been erected at the informal settlement and residents are feeling safer.

Municipal debt

To recover the R250 million rand that the municipality owed, the municipality has the following in place:

• Agreement with Eskom supply areas to disconnect customers that owe rates and services

• Agreement with Msunduzi supply areas to disconnect customers that owe rates and services

• Selling of the municipal debtors book

• Write offs for registered and verified indigent households

• Municipal Account Holders are encouraged to come forward and make arrangements to settle outstanding accounts

Positive developments as announced by the Mayor

• The municipality has procured R20 million worth of specialized equipment to maintain our landfill site and build roads. This includes 2 x TLBs, landfill compactor, refuse truck, excavator, padfoot roller, water tanker. 2 x tipper trucks should be arriving before the end of February

• We are ahead of schedule with expenditure on our Municipal infrastructure grant. This means that we are eligible for a top up of additional funds

• The municipality has improved its audit outcome from Qualified to Unqualified. This means that the Auditor General of SA has indicated that we are managing the finances well and we improve our control of the budget

• More poor and vulnerable households are receiving subsidized basic services which reduced the number of people stealing services

• The municipality has decreased electricity loss

• Over 100 employment opportunities have been created this year so far

• A number of vacancies have been filled building capacity in the municipality

• The one of its kind in the province grass cutting programme has been successfully implemented

• The traffic department now has 6 vehicles at its disposal