21-05-2025
Msunduzi ratepayers demand action against corruption and political interference
The 2025/2026 IDP-Budget Public Consultations were held at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall.
Image: Msunduzi Municipality
Msunduzi ratepayers believe that while the city is trying to boost tourism, political interference, corruption, and nepotism hamper progress in the functioning of the municipality.
Anthony Waldhausen, the chairperson of the Msunduzi Association of Residents, Ratepayers and Civics (MARRC), remarked when he provided his input during the Integrated Development Programme (IDP) draft budget consultation process held at the Pietermaritzburg City Hall on Saturday.
The mayor, Councillor Mzimkhulu Thebolla, led engagements with stakeholders to present the draft budget for the 2025/26 financial year, which is currently in the consultation stage.
Thebolla encouraged residents, businesses, and stakeholders to submit their inputs and share their views on service delivery, development programmes, and projects.
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With regard to tourism, the Msunduzi Municipality (MM) is expected to create an Urban Improvement Precinct (UIP) company to address the needs of property owners in its managed precincts to enhance the environment, improve property values, and attract investment.
The municipality is looking to enhance the entrances to the city of Pietermaritzburg (PMB) to attract tourists. Also in the pipeline is a Pietermaritzburg Walk of Fame, where tourists will be eager to see and learn about the heroes who contributed to the liberation and freedom of South Africa and Pietermaritzburg.
To promote the municipality as a smart city, the Freedom Square will offer interactions between citizens and businesses, including free Wi-fi. The MM proposes to build an Mbawula architectural installation in Langalibalele Street to honour the Struggle and triumph over the apartheid regime.
Thus far, the MM has received 3,330 emailed submissions, of which 2,450 emails had the same content, which included the poor condition of the roads, tariff increases, and unchecked electricity theft for which ratepayers were unfairly penalised.
Diane Chetty, a concerned resident, said businesses in the PMB CBD were closing because there was no walk-in trade due to crime.
She asked the municipality to consider diverting money for the rejuvenation of Freedom Park to crime fighting.
Chetty said the city infrastructure was vandalised previously, and unless crime is sorted out, future projects will also face similar challenges.
Waldhausen said the MARRC supported the initiatives by the KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) to assist and support the Msunduzi Municipality through the premier's Msunduzi Working Group.
'The Section 106 forensic investigations into the municipality, which are long overdue, will uncover the high rate of corruption and mismanagement by most politicians and municipal staff. The budget consultations will not become a reality if we do not address the political interference and high levels of corruption,' Waldhausen said.
He said the municipality needed to acknowledge MARRC submissions, otherwise there could be a legal challenge if this is not complied with, and could make the IDP and budgeting processes illegal and flawed.
Waldhausen suggested that, due to the continued poor performance of municipalities, it is proposed that municipalities move towards a business approach in order to facilitate socio-economic development.
'We look forward to contributing towards a positive process that would be beneficial to all and make our city a success. The IDP can be regarded as a continuous improvement project that is primarily concerned with creating value and benefits, in the form of socio-economic development of communities.
'It is essential to track and report on progress made with the implementation of IDPs by using management tools such as the balanced scorecard," Waldhausen suggested.
Anthony Waldhausen is co-founder and chairperson for the Msunduzi Association of Residents, Ratepayers and Civics (MARRC).
Image: Supplied
