eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda delivered his State of the City address at the Durban ICC on Tuesday, April 30, addressing the numerous challenges facing the city and outlining the municipality’s plans to confront them.
The mayor expressed confidence in the city’s strides in job creation, stating, “eThekwini Municipality currently boasts the lowest unemployment rate among the country’s metros at 22.1%, significantly lower than the national rate of 32.1%,” Mayor Kaunda emphasized.
He further disclosed that as of December last year, eThekwini is estimated to have created 4,422 full-time jobs through its capital budget initiatives. Additionally, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) generated 2,035 jobs, with the Public Employment Programme (PEP) encompassing 40 projects benefiting just over 4,000 beneficiaries during the same period.
To aid those still seeking employment, the municipality has established 25 centres of excellence throughout the city to facilitate easy access for online job applications. Equipped with computers and free Wi-Fi, these sites enable applicants to apply for jobs via the e-Recruitment portal.
In his closing statements regarding job creation, Mayor Kaunda stated, “We have decided to remove the experience requirement for all our entry-level jobs. Additionally, individuals over 35 years of age remain eligible for employment in the city.”
Addressing the issue of crime, the mayor highlighted the city’s increase in Metro Police patrols in identified hotspots, along with other interventions. “About 2,600 members out of 3,500 registered members of eThekwini Neighbourhood Watch have received training to better collaborate with law enforcement agencies and operate within legal boundaries,” Mayor Kaunda remarked.
The mayor also discussed the city’s efforts to recruit and train more police officers, as well as the introduction of new technologies such as body cameras to enhance policing. “We continue our drive to recruit 400 Metro Police officers annually to reach the target of 5,000. Additionally, we are investing in smart policing as a proactive measure to build the police force of the future. The procurement of body-worn cameras and dashboard cameras will not only improve policing but also assist in gathering evidence for successful prosecutions,” Mayor Kaunda explained.
The city has recently faced challenges with water and electricity shortages. Addressing water infrastructure, the mayor mentioned several interventions, including a R56 million upgrade for the Ntuzuma Pump Station, the construction of Adams Reservoir 5 and 6 scheduled for commissioning this year, the R28 million Shongweni reservoir, and the R30 million KwaNqetho reservoir, commissioned last year. Additionally, R25 million has been allocated for the drilling of 40 boreholes in rural areas. The city has also procured more water tankers.
“Due to the ongoing intermittent water supply, last year we procured 55 water tankers as a temporary measure for affected areas. In the current financial year, the municipality will procure an additional 100 water tankers. This will not only reduce the number of tankers we hire but also allow us to improve the scheduling of water tankers,” Mayor Kaunda concluded.
In response to Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda’s State of the City Address, the DA issued a scathing statement, accusing the mayor of recycling last year’s speech instead of addressing the true state of the city and fulfilling past promises.
According to the DA, critical issues such as water, sanitation, and electricity were neglected in the mayor’s address, despite being ongoing problems exacerbated by events like the 2022 floods. The statement highlighted areas like Phoenix, Verulam, Tongaat, Ntuzuma, Kwamakhutha, and Dassenhoek experiencing prolonged water outages due to the city’s failure to repair and upgrade infrastructure. The uncontrolled sewerage spills have also led to environmental pollution, impacting tourism, with hotels closing down and residents losing jobs and livelihoods.
Furthermore, the DA criticized the mayor’s silence on electricity infrastructure, noting the absence of progress on purchasing 400 megawatts from independent power producers as promised in the previous year’s address. The lack of affordable and reliable public transport, despite the existence of the Go Durban transport network infrastructure, was also condemned.
In conclusion, the DA asserted that the city’s leadership, under the ANC, lacks plans and empathy for the citizens. They proposed that once Chris Pappas assumes the role of premier of KZN, immediate action will be taken to place the city under administration to salvage what remains.
