Ethekwini Municipality, 30 October 2018
1.4. War on Leaks Programme to Facilitate Youth Skills Development
Mr. Speaker, the ACDP has, over the years, consistently spoken about our need to conserve water so as to ensure that our supply meets demand. It is well documented that when demand outstrips supply for key life dependent resources, catastrophes and chaos ensues.
It is also well known that here in Ethekwini, we loose some 40% of our water purchased, through theft and leakages, costing the ratepayer hundreds of millions of rands every year. It is the belief of the ACDP that the recruitment of competent, quailfied, diligent, hardworking and trustworthy plumbers, to assist in repairing leaks within the Low Cost housing and for R293 areas, is a step in the right direction.
Mr. Speaker, it is the ACDP’s assertion that if we do not this have proper accountable management or consequence management systems in place, some of these plumbers may be prone to “milking” or in this case, “watering” the system. The ACDP supports this recommendation.
2.1. Ntshongweni Mixed Use Development.
Mr. Speaker, it is well documented that the past 9-10 years in SA have been characterized by capital flight, foreign direct disinvestment and to a large extent, an investment boycott, rather than the much needed foreign and local investment. It is in this light that the ACDP welcomes the proposed development of the Ntshongweni Urban Node.
Certainly, what is needed, are business and development initiatives that are going to help increase our GDP, by investing in key projects which simultaneously decrease our unemployment, poverty and inequality levels. The ACDP believes that it is projects like these which provides exponential leverages by growing our rates base, increasing employment, doing away with old apartheid-style planning, and showing that Ethekwini is an investment friendly destination.
The ACDP, in recognising the need to promote Public Private Partnerships, supports this recommendation
