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The DA at the City of uMhlathuze has been spearheading public-private initiatives to improve service delivery and get things done efficiently at the Electrical and Energy Department.

In eradicating years of neglect, the municipality is confronted with significant backlogs and does not have the money to make the necessary changes immediately on its own. It is at this time that public-private partnerships and initiatives have become critical in service delivery.

Recent power outages that needed specialist equipment to be repaired were expedited due to these new relationships between the city and the private sector. Responding to an article in the local newspaper last year “City prioritises street and traffic light replacements”, the BUD Group offered the services of two of their locally based companies, Concord Cranes and Goscor Access Solutions. The companies offered the use of their equipment, such as cherry pickers and cranes, to the department on a zero-charge basis.

The DA commends the private sector, which not only assisted with the replacement of faulty streetlights but extended a helping hand with other projects. Concord Cranes has been assisting the department to repair high-mast lighting in the township areas and, on numerous occasions, providing specialized crane equipment to deal with emergency power outage situations quickly and effectively. During the past week, they assisted the municipality in dealing with two emergencies without which power could not be restored to Richards Bay on the same day.

These service delivery interventions are a sign of restored hope in the governance of uMhlathuze and the result of hands-on management of important departments.

Issued by Councillor Christo Botha - DA City of uMhlathuze Caucus Leader