UPM v/s Premier, Makana Municipality and Minister. Dissolution Case

[UPM media]

Grahamstown High Court hears the dissolution of the Makana Municipality

 

The people of the Makana Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape are tired of the poor service delivery and rampant corruption in the management of the municipality.

 

The Unemployed People's Movement (UPM) has taken Makana Municipality to court in breach of its obligation in terms of section 152 and 153 of the Constitution. This decision is supported by the people residing within the Makana municipality and the Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (SAHRDN).

 

UPM has declared that the jurisdictional facts exist for an intervention in the affairs of the Makana Municipality in terms of Section 139 (1) (c) of the Constitution.

 

UPM urges the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to intervene and appoint a competent administrator.

 

The failures of the Makana Municipality include:

-       Rampant corruption, the Kabuso report  exposes the extent of corruption.

-       A water crisis, residents go without water for days due to corrupt management of water and lack of mechanisms in place to deal with the effects of climate change.

-       A poor sewerage system, many residents live in the sewers, the infrastructure of the sewers has dilapidated.

-       Poor road facilities, roads are riddled with potholes that are never filled.

 

In previous attempts to plea for good governance, residents raised their concerns at a Municipal Public Accounts Committee meeting. This was to no avail, no investigation or action was taken.

Allegations of fraud and corruption against the Engineering and Infrastructure Director sent to the mayor went unanswered. The Director implicated was not charged formally after he was suspended, he was given 3 months’ salary and he then resigned.

 

The Grahamstown High Court will hear the dissolution of the Makana Council on Thursday, 12 September. The people of Makana, supported by the Unemployed People’s Movement, will march in favour of the dissolution.

 

“Corruption erodes the capacity of the state to deliver on its constitutional mandate. Corruption has collapsed our municipality and forced people to drink water from the sewer. Corruption undermines human rights and is a threat to democracy. The will of the people will always be undermined by greedy and corrupt politicians,” a UPM leader, Ayanda Kota, said.

 

“Access to basic services is a human right. No human being should be subjected to such poor living conditions. We support the call for better governance for the Makana Municipality,” Charles Clint Chimedza, Protection Officer at the SAHRDN, added.

 

 

Contact details:

Sikhumbuzo Sixujwa (UPM Chairperson)                 078 676 4804

Sinovuyo Ngubo (Secretary)                                      078 505 4768