DA eThekwini requests an urgent meeting with city bosses amid an over 40-hour power outage

15 January 2023

Following a power outage that lasted over 40 hours in Phoenix and other parts of the city, the DA has requested an urgent meeting with the eThekwini Municipality Head of Electricity, Maxwell Mthembu, the Deputy City Manager for Trading Services, Mr. Sbusisio Makhanya, and the City Manager, Mr. Musa Mbhele.

The purpose of this meeting is to find a long-term solution to what is clearly an ongoing electricity crisis in the city. This has caused pain and suffering for the residents, who must now dispose of food they have worked hard to obtain.

This crisis could have been avoided if the municipality had listened to the DA when it warned management about its failing electricity infrastructure.

With the significant increase in electricity and food prices in South Africa continuing to rise and the city having no strategy for food replacement, there is a possibility that already suffering residents could face food insecurity.

The city should immediately consider exempting Phoenix and other communities with weakened power infrastructure from load-shedding. The city administration, including Mayor Kaunda, must accept full responsibility for the ANC's decades-long mismanagement of the energy infrastructure.

We have noted that some disgruntled community members have taken to the streets to vent their rage at the DA councillors.

While residents' outrage and frustration are natural, we want to reassure them that DA councillors are doing all that is humanly necessary to get the ANC-controlled municipality to address the suffering of residents across the city.

The DA strongly discourages any attempts to protest against our councillors and urges residents and civic groups to stand together in support of our councillors as we deal with the inefficiency of our city's failed ANC government.

Issued by Thabani Mthethwa, DA eThekwini Caucus Leader, 16 January 2023