UMKHANYAKUDE, KwaZulu-Natal — A proposed R14.6 million water tanker deal by the uMkhanyakude District Municipality has drawn sharp rebuke from the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA). KZN CoGTA MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi condemned the unbudgeted acquisition as a reckless financial move, emphasizing that the province has already deployed five specialized water tankers to the region to alleviate ongoing community water shortages.
Highlighting a severe procedural misstep, Reverend Buthelezi pointed out that municipal financial years officially commence in July. Attempting to secure borrowed funds for a major capital expenditure within just the second month of the fiscal cycle violates sound financial planning. He contrasted uMkhanyakude’s approach with neighboring municipalities, such as King Cetshwayo District Municipality, which have appropriately allocated funds for similar fleet acquisitions within their official, pre-approved budgets.
The provincial pushback is deeply rooted in uMkhanyakude’s precarious financial standing. The MEC highlighted that the district is currently classified as financially distressed, carrying a staggering burden of irregular expenditure that has reached the R1 billion mark. Incurring additional long-term debt to finance operational needs is strongly discouraged by the provincial watchdog, as it ultimately shifts an unsustainable financial burden onto local taxpayers.
While acknowledging that the district holds the constitutional mandate to supply water to its citizens, Reverend Buthelezi noted that CoGTA has actively supplemented the municipality’s service delivery efforts for the past five years. To address immediate crises, the province recently dispatched five water tankers to Jozini and surrounding areas within the district. The MEC expressed profound frustration that the local municipality is only now initiating this costly, unbudgeted acquisition with a mere two months remaining in its current term of office, characterizing the move as a last-minute spending spree.
Moving forward, CoGTA’s intervention extends beyond verbal warnings. The department insists that uMkhanyakude must collaborate directly with provincial authorities to reprioritize its existing equitable share budget. By working together, the municipality can address interim water delivery challenges without resorting to financial protocols that jeopardize the region’s long-term economic stability.
