National implications - uMngeni’s Mayor Pappas tackles PMB, Eskom, shows all politics IS local

After falling short in his campaign to become KZN Premier in Election’24, Christopher Pappas returned to the executive mayorship of the uMngeni municipality. He has wasted no time in raising the pressure to reverse some blatant iniquities which have led to an electricity delivery mess in affluent Hilton. Pappas’s quest has significant implications nationally in a country where laws are often excellent, but the practical application of them just terrible. He spoke to BizNews editor Alec Hogg.
Video production by Frances Hamman
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[@ProcaviaCapensis-ts8ub]

There aren't many politicians that can be concise and talk sense consistently. Pappas is one of those rare people.

[@KrisNaiker]

Keep up the excellent work that you are doing.We are very proud of you and your positive attitude.❤

[@gekolizzard]

A rare breed. Pappas for president. Got my vote. Cheers from.. Howick

[@christinemarnewick2847]

Excellent mayor are an asset to the community. Mayor Pappas continue to plug away. You are really needed. Thank you for your service.

[@muchtruth]

True

[@SharonSmall-w4g]

What an inspiration! Mr. Pappas you give a senior citizen so much hope for our beloved South Africa! 😊

[@alicekenworthy9603]

Appreciate your ability to explain the situation so well Chris. Clearly you have made it your responsibility to work towards solving problems and not just pointing to them. Thank you Alec for your selection of topics, it gives us somewhat of an understanding into what actually is being achieved through good governance and highlighting the damage of bad governance ..

[@mariondeason1032]

👏💪 You go Chris Pappas 👏

[@shirleyhiramaneck7863]

Pappas is exceptional..

[@bhaktibeat2162]

LOVE Pappas ❤❤❤

[@laudinemunday-kw8zq]

Our Mayor is the best!! Lots of respect 🎉🎉

[@sariefoot5219]

Proud of you mr Pappas.

[@FrancoisTerblanche-o4v]

Pappas for president

[@corneliacoetz243]

Blessings Mayor Pappas in your hard work and successes!!

[@Oceanwaves329]

The ANC needs to go , Pietermaritzburg needs help, We want Mayor Pappss, this town is in a desperate mess.

[@dannyarcher6370]

Maritzburg is dead. A once-beautiful city in ruins.

[@ayeshawahab-g9q]

Pmb needs a Pappas viva DA

[@elizabethandrsu369]

This gentleman is really ready to work all the time. This is one of South Africans who can reason.He takes every one as a person .There is no certain Colour to him as we are all South Africans. Mr Papas is just good..

[@hodlinvestor1742]

Always great to hear from Chris...🤟

[@ChristoBrand-d6e]

The ANC needs to go.😮😮😮

[@Oceanwaves329]

The ANC needs to go, Pietermaritzburg needs HELP, we want Pappas. 😮😮

[@christinemeyer7163]

Residents should become much more involved in their local communities and start raising their voices about issues

[@jn8922]

Residents are involved ... But because rate payers don't toy toy and burn things we are ignored.

[@StevenJohnson-jv1iw]

This man is a legend!

[@digbywhitehead9010]

Absolutely brilliant 👏, the aspect of people on the ground to explain the dynamics to the uninformed is Absolutely essential

[@mats66028]

Papa's is the best, if he was on the National ballot I would have voted DA.

[@123heinie]

Great man

[@antonnicolasburger8800]

Go DA, Go !!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@FikileMkhabela-r3e]

We still have hope with a Mayor like you, Sir.

[@pamelaleibowitz3019]

Thank you for this information !

[@ChristoBrand-d6e]

You keep them on their toes and eventualy they will lose ballance and get out.😮

[@kilmore44]

This bloke needs to be listed to !

[@winkstunes6845]

Hilton electricity has been and is a nightmare. The residents have a real problem. Good luck with resolving the issue.

[@MmaBee7669]

Msunduzi will never agree they want us to suffer while paying for them, yabona nje salithwala shem and kubukeka kumnyama shem. But we are hopeful because of Pappas.

[@sarahnaidoo2953]

Very informative

[@ayeshawahab-g9q]

Out with the old n in with the new..DA has their heads screwed rite

[@sachinbangaru737]

Vote for Papas!

[@ChristoBrand-d6e]

Local is lekker. In sleepy hollow. PMB❤

[@rowansps]

Thank you for that decision Mr. Mayor ❤

[@petroguilherme5549]

True he is a favourite.....mine for sure Please elope to Jozi...we so need a mayor of substance

[@Ellenbaba]

Nice to hear.him

[@GaragePie22]

Eish ANC just don't care! Good luck trying to solve it! I'd rather try get Hilton in your supply line

[@Anti-Woke310]

NERSA should take Msunduzi’s license away!!!

[@marcone123ish]

NERSA was established in 2004. Very clear as it who runs it.

[@clydeb8251]

Please can't we have you for Mayor in JHB .. I suppose we can dream. Unfortunately people get the government they vote for

[@Cent51]

All the mayor's in DA follow the same principles, if they did not have to deal with the anc, eff and now asa and manchild Herman, they would be able to do a lot of stuff..

[@Anti-Woke310]

Salga! Another institution that needs revision!!!

[@eduardredinger1377]

Well young Man.

[@NtokozaPearlKhaula]

My President i love ❤ and Mackenzie.I wich you were in Palament South Africa need to know you and here you more.

[@FikileMkhabela-r3e]

It is so funny that most people choose corruption, which is a difficult thing to do coupled with lies and corrupt people lack inner peace. Doing things right the first time is so easy, and people doing the right things the first time have inner peace.

[@benjaminlabuschagne9101]

Chris probably has much resistance to fixing things from opposition ....but the place ( Durban / Maritzburg) is still in a mess & fithy . The reality experienced. They will sabotage his efforts unfortunately !!

[@GlendaHayward]

So wish we had the same calibre of councilor in our area.

[@annettesimpson9420]

ANC cannot move beyond the past. They must not enter into contracts/agreements with other parties as eventually they do as they want.

[@JuicyJLee]

Well at least can we stop sending our raw materials out the country. Like how Ghana has done with it's Coco

[@jacquesvanniekerk2896]

And where must South africa get money to buy all the Chinese products. If we import we must Export. We can manufacture more in South africa but we play the manufacturing game against the world. South africa must study the manufacturing game like you study your opponents in soccer and improve. You can never if you don't improve.

[@ZiziphoLubelwana]

By the way the Rand is not doing well, its back at 1usd - R18.14

[@powertechnical]

I used the election results for my assignment and uMngeni had the highest turnout and the MK had almost more than the DA

[@jenniferwilliams6271]

❤

[@nicolaasludick4807]

Sounds good to mention credit to mayors, but then you can only get it if you know what the mayor does and that it is actually benefitting the community and not only a few special individuals.

[@MmathaeleRalengau]

No. We need Pappas in Eastern Cape. Hopefully Matatiele.

[@gordonicus4637]

Same situation in certain areas between Emfuleni and Midvaal.

[@leadershiphorizons2511]

I would like to see another interview with Chris on Sanitation. DA's performance here is non-existant. Umngeni has abbrogated its responsibility to the district council. It has made no attempt to build capacity to take over this function from the incompetent district council. Consequently the Albert Falls dam is contaminated causing severe water treatment problems for Durban.

[@Vikingza]

Mr Pappas comment about Eskom and what areas they supply is wrong especially when it comes to Cape Town. The reason why some areas of Cape Town are supplied by City of Cape Town and others are supplied by Eskom dates back to before the Cape Town Uni-City was formed when there was a Parow Municipality, Tygerberg Municipality etc. It was not financially viable for the Municipalities to supply electricity as the cost was so low and the required running costs on a small scale would have been high, so it made sense to let Eskom supply the electricity in those areas and that way it made it more financially viable and there was no need for duplication of high expenses over a small area. When the City of Cape Town merged with all the small Municipalities to form the Unicity of Cape Town they could not take the electricity system over from Eskom as it was run on different "standards" to the City of Cape Town and the cost to change those areas from the Eskom standard to the City of Cape Town standard is to high as one would basically need to remove all the current infrastructure and replace it with new.

[@GlendaHayward]

Our DA councilor in our area is utterly useless.😭

[@GlendaHayward]

Same here.

[@paulinegabriel3660]

👍🏽

[@cindyleehart1039]

The inter govermental dispute process is an excuse and a delay for all parties not to act in terms of their requirement to provide a service to the people who pay their salary and tax for provision of services. The courts will also delay their part by enforcing all to go through this red tape of inter govermental dispute process before they will deal with a matter if at all. The real problem is that no one is held to account at any level for their lack of, in taking action to resolve the problem speedily in terms of their responsibility to providing the service which the taxpayer has paid for. Something needs to be put in place to hold people accountable for their part in resolving a matter and they should have time line constraints to adhere to and if they dont it should be clocked on their performance card assessment yearly and where incompetent to function, dont shift the shit by miving them to another department. fire them.

[@keeseyhayward7507]

Msunduzi obviously doesn't want to lose the revenue from wealthy Hilton. I wonder what percentage of Msunduzi's total revenue comes from Hilton. Does anyone know?

[@jenniferwilliams6271]

Good question.

[@Vuyisile-bw7ux]

I love your coverage , always indepth, big up to you for your expository and insightful coverage of topical news and issues of interest but you're pretty selective as to who you cover , is it your agenda to continue to do that Alec ? If that's true , it'd sad. I so don't want to believe that.

[@martiechris7703]

Why are you looking for regocnition? You do receive a salary for what you are doing.

[@Phillip-oo2ft]

Recognition must be given...it motivates to higher standards

[@lorrainemangiagalli9289]

Yes He works for a salary and works very hard for it Not like other municipalities

[@Kwazulujabul]

What is your problem, all employees thrive on recognition. If you are a boss or in management position you will know that.

[@Kwazulujabul]

O my dear, red tape in South Africa, where things do not function well. Just adds to the frustration to get things done.

[@HelenJooste-i8i]

Recognition not as a person. But the good work produced. Compare to other municipalities. This man has values