By
Ndumiso
Tshuma
During
a
feedback
meeting
held
at
the
City
Council
Chambers
on
Wednesday,
residents
expressed
frustration
over
the
decision-making
process,
accusing
the
council
of
sidelining
their
voices
in
critical
discussions.
Entumbane
resident
Khethiwe
Tshuma
criticised
the
council’s
history
of
unilateral
decision-making,
saying
residents
were
often
excluded
from
consultations.
“They
make
serious
decisions
themselves
without
consulting
us,”
she
said.
“We
cannot
bank
on
BCC’s
consultation
because
they
end
up
doing
things
in
their
own
way.”
The
proposal
aims
to
establish
an
independent
water
management
body,
but
many
fear
it
could
mirror
past
failed
utility
models.
Some
residents
questioned
whether
the
new
utility
would
genuinely
serve
the
public
or
primarily
benefit
a
select
few.
“If
we
look
at
Ingwebu,
it
is
now
a
utility
owned
by
a
few,”
said
Thamsanqa
Ndlovu.
“It
sounds
like
only
one
person
or
a
small
group
is
benefiting.
Why
can’t
the
city
council
employ
professional
workers
who
don’t
engage
in
corrupt
practices?”
Others
raised
concerns
over
potential
job
losses
for
council
employees.
“If
we
introduce
this
water
utility,
that
means
council
members
don’t
have
employment
anymore,”
said
Praise
Ncube
from
Pumula
South.
“We
elect
council
members
to
represent
our
needs.
What
happens
if
only
a
few
individuals
are
picked
to
run
this
utility?
How
will
we
be
represented?
We
need
improved
service
delivery
for
the
people.”
BCC
officials
defended
the
plan,
arguing
that
it
would
bring
investment
and
improve
water
service
efficiency.
“The
introduction
of
a
utility
will
not
only
attract
investment
but
also
upgrade
ageing
wastewater
systems,”
said
Acting
Director
of
Water
and
Sanitation,
Engineer
Kwanele
Sibanda.
“More
efficient
and
reliable
water
sanitation
management
will
be
implemented
if
residents
agree
to
this
proposal.”
Dr.
Edwin
Mzingwane
Sibanda,
BCC’s
Director
of
Health,
defended
the
hiring
of
a
Dutch
company
Vitens
Evides
International
(VIE),
as
a
consultant,
highlighting
past
successes
of
foreign
partnerships,
pointing
to
VIE,
which
helped
establish
1,816
sewer
connections
in
Cowdray
Park
by
December
2022.
“We
have
approached
VIE
for
assistance.
So
far,
the
servicing
of
Phase
1
in
Cowdray
Park
has
been
completed,
with
water
connections
for
5,868
households,”
said
Dr.
Sibanda.
“Phase
2
is
ongoing,
and
once
completed,
we
will
move
on
to
other
areas.”