The Democratic Alliance (DA) leader in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) legislature Francois Rodgers on Tuesday called for an urgent meeting with KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, as the lack of service delivery within the eThekwini municipality reaches crisis levels.

The ongoing strike over wage increases by eThekwini municipal workers affiliated to the South African Municipal Workers Union, started on February 27 and has since left many households struggling to access water, and resolve sewage leaks and electricity issues.

Refuse collection has also stagnated and services in municipal-run health clinics is also impacted.

Rodgers stated that the situation was now “critical as anarchy reigns”, saying the intervention from the Premier and her Cabinet was way overdue.

“It is now imperative that they bring an end to the dire circumstances facing KZN’s vital metro. KZN’s people have already endured too much suffering under an incompetent ANC-run government,” he said.

He said it was clear that eThekwini’s ANC-run council was unable to deal with the strike.

“As in the case of our province’s ongoing water crisis, it is causing massive harm to KZN’s economy, its residents and to councillors - and it must be stopped,” he said.

The DA said it had made numerous attempts to compel the ANC-run council to act on behalf of the municipality’s residents.

Meanwhile, Rodgers noted that Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda and his senior management have largely been missing in action.