By Zukile Majova
Political Editor
There was a significant reduction in complaints about corruption and load shedding from the communities in KwaZulu-Natal where President Cyril Ramaphosa was campaigning.
But everywhere the president went in the eThekwini Metro, residents complained about access to clean drinking water and jobs for young people.
The water reticulation infrastructure in the metro collapsed during the 2021 floods and some communities like Ward 1 in KwaXimba have not had piped water for two years.
Various more affluent suburbs like Phoenix are also battling water cuts that can last from as long as a week to over a month.
Ramaphosa has set up a presidential working group based in the office of the president to fast track the repair of infrastructure in eThekwini that was destroyed by the floods.
“We are busy at work. We are certainly not resting on our laurels. As it is now, the water issue is being addressed, we are bringing out these big water tanks that are going to be installed in a number of places.
“Procurement of these has already happened, we are going to have up to 400 tanks installed so that people can draw water and don’t have to keep following water tankers,” said Ramaphosa.
Opposition parties were hoping public anger about corruption and load shedding would spur voters to leave the ANC.
But the State Capture Commission report which exposed the looting of state resources during the Jacob Zuma years has shown that Ramaphosa rescued the country from a corrupt regime.
Since taking office, Ramaphosa has pushed compromised leaders like former president Jacob Zuma out of the ANC and charged him with fraud and corruption.
Former ANC secretary Ace Magashule is being tried for corruption in the R250-million Free State asbestos roofs scandal, while former eThekwini mayor Zandile Gumede is in court for her role in the R350-million Durban Solid Waste tender scandal.
Ramaphosa showed his resolve in the fight against corruption when his government charged Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, the sitting Speaker of the National Assembly, and forced her out of office for allegedly demanding R4-million in kickbacks from a supplier who received over R200-million in defence contracts.
Concerns about power cuts which cost the economy over R300-billion and countless jobs lost last year have been placed on the back burner, as there has been no load shedding in the country for 25 consecutive days.
Pictured Above: EThekwini Municipality water tanker pouring water into a tank outside a hostel.
Image Source: X
