eThekwini Municipality takes strides towards smart city status at MIRA Awards
Smart Cities leverage information and communication technology to enhance infrastructure and services, ultimately leading to a better quality of life for residents and businesses. Despite being just in its second year, the MIRA Awards have swiftly established themselves as a key benchmark for municipalities seeking to innovate and improve public service delivery.
The MIRA Awards are a collaboration between the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). They are rooted in the sophisticated Municipal Innovation Maturity Index (Mimi), which measures the level of innovation within municipalities.
Dr Tshepang Mosiea, Chief Director of Innovation for Inclusive Development within the DSTI, noted that municipalities reaching Level 4 on the Mimi scale demonstrate strong management processes and a commitment to innovation. 'There is evidence that the municipality has the necessary innovation infrastructure and financial resources allocated and managed to support innovation,' Dr Mosiea explained.
According to UKZN Associate Professor Sithembiso Myeni, the focus of the index is to enhance public service delivery while fostering a culture of innovation that has the potential to transform communities. Higher scores on the index mean municipalities can unlock public funding, facilitating the journey toward smart city designation.
Smart Cities are anticipated to create optimal environments, addressing sustainability challenges like climate change through initiatives that reduce carbon emissions and promote efficient resource use. At the MIRA Awards, the City of Cape Town stood out for its one-stop business portal, with other innovators including Ekurhuleni for its approach to combatting non-revenue water and Polokwane for its My Citizen App. Meanwhile, the Chris Hani District Municipality made strides in ensuring access to clean drinking water through the Machibini Water Treatment Plant.
The MIMI framework not only rates basic services but also measures improvements in areas such as sanitation and energy consumption. Its development into a digital platform aims to streamline its use and enhance the analysis of municipalities' innovation capabilities.
This year's event also unveiled the Municipal Innovation Fund (MIF), aimed at supporting high-performing municipalities in scaling innovative projects designed to bolster basic service delivery. Established by the DSTI, the fund will offer up to R3 million per project, enabling qualifying municipalities to harness technologies that have measurable community impacts.
With eThekwini Municipality fully engaged in these transformative efforts, the pursuit of Smart City status not only promises enhanced service delivery, but also a brighter future for its residents. As municipalities increasingly incorporate technology into their operations, the hope is that they will set a powerful precedent for others across the nation.
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