#TwoBits: Mayoral absence does not make the heart grow fonder
Dolphin Coast residents are fed up. Over season and the New Year they suffered 83 days of power cuts in addition to the normal mode of numerous blacked out streetlights, traffic lights not working, potholed streets and, and, and.
Mayor Muzi Ngidi called an imbizo to explain his council's budget. So the residents showed up – more than 600 people, the largest turnout ever in local history. The Umhlali school hall overflowed, they stood in the rain to hear explanations for KwaDukuza's poor performance.
But the mayor was not there. He wasn't well, officials said. Strangely enough, he had been in full health throughout the day at council, according to numerous witnesses. Then he developed this mysterious illness. Shem.
The deputy mayor and officials then proceeded to conduct a constructive meeting, but many residents said the mayor's no-show was disrespectful.
It was brought to the attention of the meeting that council is refusing to meet with the Dolphin Coast civic body, Doccra. That is a great pity. The residents' association has worked long and hard to form a constructive relationship with council. On what grounds the relationship has foundered is unclear, though it is suspected that internal ANC politics is at the root.
The simple truth is that Docrra represents 30 000 households, which contribute more than a couple of billion Rands to council coffers. Is it asking too much to be civil to your biggest customer?
KwaDukuza's erratic leadership is already under close scrutiny from the electricity regulator, Nersa, and the local government ministry, Cogta. Not helped by the – oops! – theft of R35.7 million from council earlier this year.
The ANC in iLembe district is on very shaky ground. In round figures, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party took 45 percent of the vote last year, from zero, compared to the ANC's 17 percent, down from 54 percent. That is a massive kick in the pants. The region's general population have already given the ANC the thumbs down for arrogance and poor service delivery. Expect more of the same in the 2026 local government elections if they don't smarten up.
To change the subject slightly and give some light relief, wasn't it mind-boggling to listen to all the political parties squabbling over who was responsible for stopping the VAT increase! Looters running out of shopping malls with TVs on their heads do so with more dignity. The cherry on the cake was Mr Fixf*k*l Mbalula saying that the ANC had been against it! I suppose if you lie enough, someone will believe you.
In my view, the DA and the EFF were solely responsible for stopping it. Never thought I'd agree with anything Julius did. But he did save his reputation right after that by proposing that Treasury get extra cash with an 'apartheid wealth tax'. Yeah right, Ju-Ju!
* * *
Where do bad rainbows go?
To prism. It's a light sentence, but it gives them time to reflect.
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