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Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda vindicated the DA in admitting that the city is beset with lazy officials.

These officials are the orchestrators of the poor service delivery in DA run wards. They are also to blame for the overtime problem, which has cost the city millions of rands. Some staff have claimed 200 hours in a single month, with many disrupting water and sanitation services.

The city's electrical department has used a similar tactic, which may be part of the reason why there is currently no power in some parts of the city.

While the Mayor’s statement has some validity, he should also take accountability for fostering a culture of laziness. Mayor Kaunda must also take responsibility for the collapse of our tourism industry, for failing to prioritise infrastructure upkeep, and for not paying attention to opposition parties when they advise him on important issues like the sewage crisis that resulted in the closure of several beaches.

It is high time the ANC-led government involves opposition parties more in decision-making and embraces a more collaborative approach for the sake of eThekwini and its people.

The Mayor must decide what to do with his newfound revelation. The DA, we will be posing the question to the Mayor at an Exco meeting to find the way forward.

Issued by Councillor Thabani Mthethwa - DA eThekwini Caucus Leader