Zwakele Mncwango,ActionSA KZN Provincial Chaiperson has expressed his unhappiness about the Democratic Alliance pace and attitude towards their joint-litigation which involves eThekwini Metro deteriorating sewerage infrastructure.

He said ActionSA is deeply disheartened by the continued delays in our joint litigation against the eThekwini Metro,which directly hinder efforts to hold the municipality accountable for its failure to provide basic services,by repairing sewerage infrastructure.

He clarified that DA involvement in the case has caused unnecessary delays for the matter to be heard in court.

"ActionSA was the first political party to take legal action against the City of eThekwini,challenging its negligence for the sewerage infrastructure.

Subsequently,the DA initiated its own legal proceedings,prompting the courts to combine the two matters.Despite our case being far more advanced,the DA's involvement has resulted in significant and ongoing delays in the matter being heard,"Mncwango said.

He revealed that their case was supposed to be heard last year but was postponed because DA's legal representatives were not prepared,so the matter was rescheduled for next month and now DA has requested another postponement,and he insisted that DA does not care about residents of eThekwini.

"The joint matter,initially scheduled for a hearing on the 3rd and 4th of October 2024,was postponed at the DA's request,citing ill-prepared legal representatives.

"This caused the case to be rescheduled for the 20th and 21st of February 2025.

"Now,in yet another blow to the residents of eThekwini,the DA has requested yet another postponement,claiming the unavailability of their legal team.

This repeated stalling by the DA demonstrates a blatant lack of respect and regard for the people of eThekwini.While the DA publicly claims to fight for residents' rights,their actions show otherwise,"he added.

He literally pointed out that DA has changed a lot since joined government and pretends to be care about the metro's residents when is campaigning only.

"Before the Provincial and National elections on 29 May 2024,the DA was vocal about the issue,only to fall silent after the elections.

"They briefly revived their efforts during the Ward 35 by-election in eThekwini but have since gone completely quiet,continuously delaying progress.

This clearly demonstrates that they are not serious about addressing the issue and merely use it as a political tool during campaign periods,"said Mncwango.

He made it clear that DA's actions are catastrophic for the environment as well as tourism sector and also downplays the importance of the case.

"These delays enable the continued collapse of basic services,while raw sewage spills into rivers,residential areas,and oceans,forcing beach closures and posing serious health and environmental risks.The effect on tourism and health sectors are devastating.

The arrogance and disregard displayed by the DA not only undermines the urgency of this matter but also obstructs the fight to compel the municipality to fulfill its constitutional mandate,"continued Mncwango.

He admitted that the DA stance has left them helpless and he also expressed his disappointment about the legal system which entertains DA's excuses,and vowed to fight for eThekwini residents.

"This has left us unable to make meaningful progress in ensuring that eThekwini residents receive the services that they are constitutionally entitled to.

"Equally disappointing is the legal system's tolerance for these repeated postponements,which fail the residents who rely on these proceedings to restore basic dignity and services.

The residents of eThekwini deserve better,and we will continue fighting for the restoration of their basic rights and services,"he concluded.