Opposition parties in Msunduzi have warned that an amalgamation of the Msunduzi Municipality with other municipalities could prove disastrous.

The Municipal Demarcation Board is currently investigating the potential amalgamation of the Msunduzi Municipality, Richmond Municipality and the uMgungundlovu District Municipality to form a new category A metropolitan municipality in the uMgungundlovu district.

The Msunduzi Ratepayers and the Msunduzi Association of Residents, Ratepayers, and Civics have stated that they are monitoring the situation. “We are waiting for the report from the Municipal Demarcation Board in order to make a comment. They conducted research on this matter and will hold a public meeting to present their findings,” they said.

Rienus Niemand of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) expressed concerns, stating that Msunduzi is already struggling, and amalgamating it with other struggling municipalities could be disastrous.

“It would be short-sighted and irresponsible to place our overburdened ratepayers under even more stress and to put our already dysfunctional administration and its strained resources in such an untenable position.

“One can only come to one conclusion: the minority ANC government is in a blind panic-stricken attempt at survival, throwing caution to the wind to try and strengthen itself politically with a few ANC wards.

“The ACDP firmly believes that Msunduzi must focus on getting its house in order: stop the wholesale theft of its main trading commodities, namely electricity and water, which has placed it in a near-zero cash flow position; collect the R7 billion debt owed to it; aggressively address the near non-existent service delivery; and start paying its creditors, which has dramatically surged in both the amount owed and the time taken to pay (currently six months).

“The ACDP has no doubt that Msunduzi is salvageable given an honourable and responsible government and a functioning administration—both of which are currently non-existent. The ACDP condemns and will fight any attempt to further undermine Msunduzi. Richmond, being a basket case administratively and financially, must be salvaged by the provincial government, which is their duty.”

ActionSA leader Zwakele Mncwango stated that the party would never support such a proposal, saying it isn't for the benefit of residents. "Msunduzi is a collapsed city; mayors have been changed, and many administrators have been brought in and have failed. The focus should be on fixing that municipality.

“Amalgamating with other struggling municipalities is unhelpful; it could lead to Pietermaritzburg deteriorating further because the small revenue is now going to be used to support rural areas in Richmond, where no rates are collected,” he said.

THE MERCURY