DEAR Councillor Cyril Xaba,

Mayor of the eThekwini Municipality

The citizens of the eThekwini Municipality are facing an unprecedented water crisis due to years of negligence, mismanagement, and corruption under your administration. This failure has left communities across the municipality without access to water, a fundamental human right enshrined in our Constitution.

I am compelled to address this blatant disregard for the needs of our citizens. Alongside our alliance partner, the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party, we will not stand by while your administration continues to fail the people who placed their trust in you.

We demand that:

1. Water tankers must be dispatched to all affected areas within the next 24 hours.

2. Repair the water supply system immediately and provide a transparent timeline for the full restoration of water services.

3. Issue a public statement acknowledging the municipality’s failures, and provide detailed plans on how you intend to prevent such crises in the future.

4. Present a comprehensive plan for upgrading and maintaining water infrastructure, ensuring that it is adequately budgeted and implemented transparently.

5. Conduct thorough investigations into the mismanagement and corruption within the municipality, and hold those responsible accountable.

Should your administration fail to meet these demands within 24 hours:

1. We will mobilise citizens for mass protests across the municipality to demand accountability and immediate relief.

2. Petition the national government to dissolve the eThekwini municipality and call for fresh elections, as this administration has failed its mandate to serve the people.

3. Lay criminal charges against individuals within your administration for negligence, corruption, and the violation of citizens’ constitutional rights.

This crisis is not a natural disaster. It is a man-made catastrophe caused by your administration’s failure to prioritize the needs of the people.

This is your opportunity to restore some semblance of trust by taking decisive action to address this crisis. Failure to act will leave us with no choice but to lead the people in holding your administration accountable through every available legal, social, and political avenue.

COUNCILLOR NIEL PATCHAPEN

African Democratic Change (ADeC)

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.

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