A move to place key and strategic economic zones such as the King Shaka International Airport under the KwaDukuza municipality has divided the ANC regions in Kwazulu-Natal.
Some of the proposals currently being considered by the municipal dermacation board (MDB) are to move the Cato Ridge industrial hub from eThekwini metro and place it under the municipal boundary of Mkhambathini local council, which falls under uMgungundlovu district municipality.
If the proposal sees the light of day, it will lead to eThekwini losing substantial revenue and one of its key strategic assets.
On the other hand, KwaDukuza also wants to take some parts of posh suburbs of uMdloti and Lamercy, including the Dube Trade Port and King Shaka International Airport from the only metro in the province.
These are considered an economic lifeblood for eThekwini and the entire province, and the proposals have pitted ANC regions against each other.
While the ANC provincial leadership had wanted the regions to instead consult among themselves, it has now emerged that the provincial top brass is having a sudden change of heart.
KwaZulu-Natal ANC secretary Bheki Mtolo made it clear that a decision to take key strategic assets from eThekwini will not be supported.
“If there are municipalities that want to be metros, there is nothing wrong with that. But our view is that they must not do so at the expense of eThekwini,” Mtolo said, insisting that eThekwini is the biggest employer in KwaZulu-Natal.
“They must formulate their own local development strategies and attract investment.”
However, a regional party leader from General Gizenga Mpanza, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, said the provincial leadership is bulldozing them.
The region covers the areas such as the affluent suburb of Ballito, among others.
“If you look at KwaDukuza for instance, we are the top three performing cities in the country. The municipality has been receiving international awards back-to-back because of the manner we handle our finances and how we deliver for our communities,” said the leader.
“eThekwini on the other hand is a failing metro, so we fundamentally differ with the provincial leadership.”
The sentiments are also echoed by several leaders of the Moses Mabhida region, which covers Pietermaritzburg and Howick, among other areas.
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