MTHATHA, Eastern Cape — King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality Mayor Mkhanyiseli Dudumayo has firmly rejected allegations of service delivery failures, defending the municipality’s strategic planning and infrastructure investments in response to recent criticism from UDM mayoral candidate Mlimandlela Ndamase.
Ndamase recently accused the municipality of running the city down and lacking a proper service delivery plan. In response, Mayor Dudumayo emphasized that the local government, as the sphere closest to the citizens, has operated under a clear five-year strategic plan since 2021. He outlined three core priorities driving the municipality’s agenda: infrastructure investment programs, economic development programs, and institutional transformation.
Highlighting tangible economic development, the Mayor pointed to active construction and automotive industry activities at the Vindela Industrial Park in Mthatha as proof of ongoing progress. He also noted significant improvements in the local road network, specifically citing ongoing work on the national road route from Viedgesville to Coffee Bay, as well as targeted infrastructure upgrades in the Mthatha CBD and King Edward areas.
Addressing direct complaints about Mthatha being filthy and dirty, Mayor Dudumayo stated that the municipality has invested heavily in its vehicle fleet. This investment, he noted, has greatly improved waste management and ensured there are no lapses in refuse removal. He urged critics to recognize the operational realities on the ground, clarifying that King Sabata Dalindyebo is a Category B municipality that shares certain service functions with a Category C district municipality.
When pressed on resident complaints regarding feces-contaminated piped water, the Mayor clarified that bulk water provision is a district-level function, requiring collaborative governance. He referenced recent statements by the district mayor regarding presidential intervention projects, specifically highlighting an active water infrastructure project stretching from Rosedale to Coffee Bay. According to Dudumayo, contractors are currently on site in various areas of the municipality to address these critical water challenges.
Emphasizing the broad scope of the municipality, which covers 37 wards with Mthatha serving as the administrative capital, Mayor Dudumayo maintained that institutional transformation and cooperative governance with the district are key to sustaining service delivery improvements for all residents. He concluded that claims of a lack of planning do not reflect the active, multi-faceted development strategies currently underway in the region.
