The COGTA Portfolio Committee commended the City for gains made to address infrastructural challenges from the April floods.

Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has commended eThekwini Municipality’s strides to accelerate quality service delivery in the City following the April floods last year. Sitting in Mayville on 17 March, the committee received a progress report on the implementation of the Municipality’s plan to repair roads, electricity, and water and sanitation infrastructure. 

The Municipality also reported on the turnaround plan to clean the City. While there is still more work to be done, the committee was satisfied with the visible progress on the ground as water and electricity provision in the City has improved significantly after the April floods. Among the concerns raised by the committee was non-revenue water which
is largely caused by aging infrastructure, vandalism, and illegal connections. To address this challenge, the City has implemented an infrastructure levy that has been ringfenced solely for the maintenance of infrastructure. Funding has also been allocated to upgrade sewer networks and wastewater treatment plants to reduce the frequency of failures and
prevent pollution of the environment.

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs also presented an assessment report which indicated that the Municipality continues to be financially viable with a collection rate of 92 percent and that the audit outcome from the Auditor-General has significantly improved as the City has reduced the number of audit findings. 

The report also praised the Municipality for improving waste management. EThekwini Mayor Councillor Mxolisi Kaunda described the report as a true reflection of what is happening in the Municipality. He assured the committee that turnaround plans with clear timelines are being implemented to clear the backlog of repairs to infrastructure.