The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in Phoenix, north of Durban, is calling for the immediate resignation of eThekwini Municipality City Manager Musa Mbhele and Acting Deputy City Manager for Water Services, Ednick Msweli, over the prolonged water outages affecting the area.
IFP councillor Dr. Jonathan Annipen has accused the two senior officials — along with other top municipal leaders — of gross negligence in addressing the water crisis that has left residents and businesses in Ward 48 without supply for nearly two weeks.
Despite repeated appeals from the community for urgent intervention, Annipen says their pleas have gone unanswered.
“The water infrastructure in eThekwini has collapsed under the watch of these officials, yet ratepayers are the ones bearing the burden — both in service failures and in funding their multi-million rand salaries,” said Annipen.
He added that the IFP, as part of the municipality’s Training Services Cluster, would use its oversight role to push for accountability and action.
“We are no longer asking politely. The City Manager and the Acting DCM must go,” Annipen stated.
The eThekwini Municipality has not yet issued a response to the IFP’s demands.