Despite forming a stable provincial government with the ANC, the DA in KwaZulu-Natal will continue to occupy opposition benches in eThekwini.
The DA and ANC's negotiations to form a coalition have been deadlocked after the ANC’s refusal to sign a draft order which would create a legal framework to solve the city’s water and sanitation crisis.
DA KwaZulu-Natal leader Francois Rodgers on Wednesday told TimesLIVE Premium that the ANC wanted the DA to withdraw and settle its case out of court, adding that failure to reach consensus was a stumbling block in any discussions to co-govern the city.
“We went into discussions with the ANC and one of the conditions that we had was regarding the case we had against the city. That matter needs to continue to unfold so that somebody is held accountable for what’s transpired over the last year,” he said.
The DA had approached the courts over water provision challenges and sewerage spillages flowing into the sea as a result of ageing infrastructure at wastewater treatment works, leading to the closure of beaches.
Rodgers, who was campaigning for a by-election in ward 34 eThekwini, an area in the north of Durban that has borne the brunt of water supply interruptions since 2020, said the DA was satisfied with its role of opposition in the metro.
“The most important thing is when one looks at the service delivery challenges in eThekwini and again the water issue, there are parts of the north of Durban that have not had water for more than a week now.
“I think it's critically important that people support the DA because we have been the ones to take eThekwini to court on the water and sanitation matter and it's the DA that keeps driving the agenda about the failures of service delivery in eThekwini,” he said.
You can imagine if we didn't have the DA in the city where we would be now
— Francois Rodgers, DA KwaZulu-Natal leader
The DA asked eThekwini municipality to sign a draft order stating that the city transgressed several environmental regulations and unconstitutionally operates its wastewater treatment works without a valid licence.
No agreement in signing the draft order was reached, leading to a collapse of co-governing talks. The DA is heading to court in October against the city.
“You can imagine if we didn't have the DA in the city where we would be now. I think it's critically important that people identify a political party that is able to drive the agenda of failed service delivery and come up with solutions,” Rodgers added.
Ward 34 is a traditional DA ward which includes areas such as Effingham, Greenwood Park, Sea Cow Lake and Kenville.
Meanwhile, eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba recently conducted a site inspection at the Durban Heights Water Treatment Works following the interruption of water supply in the northern parts of the city.
He assured residents that there were ongoing engagements with uMngeni-uThukela Water to resolve all water challenges in the city, adding that practical solutions are being implemented to urgently turn the situation around.
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