
eThekwini mayor commits to building a city for future generations
DURBAN - Provision of uninterrupted water and electricity supply, improving sanitation and customer care and building an economically sustainable city. These are the priorities of eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba.
He's committed to building a city for future generations.
He made these comments during his Budget Policy Statement.
And, if he plans to make good on all these promises, he has his work cut out for him, as we know that eThekwini is still rebuilding after the 2021 riots and the devastating floods in 2022.

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6 hours ago
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Pressure is piling on eThekwini Municipality mayor Cyril Xaba to take action after the City incurred legal and interest costs after failing to pay a service provider. Image: File Photo Opposition parties in the eThekwini Municipality have called for accountability from the officials who have caused the City to incur costs in a R30 million tender legal battle between the City and the service provider which ended up in the Constitutional Court. Last week, the Constitutional Court dismissed the City's leave to appeal the Supreme Court of Appeal judgment - the City wanted the upper courts to overturn the Durban High Court ruling in 2022 which ordered it to pay Daily Double Trading an amount of R30 million as a settlement to the R43 million claim the company had made for work done. The City's argument was that it did not authorise an attorney who reached a settlement with the service provider therefore it could not be liable for the payment, however, the City did not oppose the matter in court. With the matter dragging on from 2018 at a cost of 10% interest, the City is now liable for an extra R20 million in costs - with significant legal costs on top of this. In the wake of the Concourt decision, the DA on Sunday called for the immediate suspension of City Manager Musa Mbhele and his referral to the Financial Misconduct Board. In a statement, the party said the damages stem from the municipality's 2013 decision to cancel contracts with Daily Double Trading 479CC, adding that courts previously ruled that the cancellation was unlawful. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'The DA believes that, as the head of the city's administration, Mbhele has a duty to safeguard public funds and not act recklessly when ratepayers' money is at stake. The party believes that his conduct in this matter warrants a formal investigation by the Financial Misconduct Board and that he should be suspended from his duties pending the outcome. "The City manager had every opportunity to comply with previous court orders related to this matter but refused to, in the process, wasting public money to defend the indefensible,' said the party. Joining the calls, ActionSA provincial leader, Zwakele Mncwango also called on Mbhele to be liable as an accounting officer or else tell the council who had provided legal advice to him to continue defending the matter after several court judgments. Mncwango also questioned the capabilities of the City's legal services unit as the continued dismissal of the case right up to the Constitutional Court meant that the City had been receiving poor legal advice. 'There is a serious problem here, whether Mbhele was appealing this matter (based) on his opinion that the City legal services are incompetent. It is not a legal opinion but a political one,' said Mncwango. The EFF's eThekwini chairperson Themba Mvubu said while his party commended the effort by the municipality to try and save taxpayers' money, there was a need find the officials who illegally authorised to negotiate a settlement with the service provider, without the necessary authority.

IOL News
4 days ago
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eThekwini's budget sparks hope among business leaders, yet tariff hikes worry small enterprises
eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba addressing the business breakfast held on Wednesday on the City's budget. Image: Supplied by eThekwini Municipality Business and civil society in Durban believe that the eThekwini Municipality has turned a corner and is on track to deliver economic growth, attract tourists, and provide essential services to communities. They said they had noted that parts of the city that were previously deemed 'uninhabitable' due to the proliferation of criminality and drug abuse are being cleaned up, alongside improvements in the cleanliness of the city and investment in infrastructure that has the capacity to deliver services and unlock billions in potential investments. Stakeholders also said the City's budget for the 2025/2026 financial year was much better than those of previous years and will be a cornerstone to unlocking further potential in the city. The City held a business breakfast on Wednesday to discuss the budget that was passed by the council a few days ago. The budget, valued at close to R70 billion, detailed the tariffs that have been imposed. Mluleki Nhlapo, provincial secretary of the National African Federation Chamber (Nafcoc), said the city was on track, especially regarding many of the basics that attract investment and business growth. "You can see that in terms of the improvements in security and cleanliness; the city is now clean at any time of day," he noted. However, he expressed concerns about the upcoming tariff hikes, stating, "We are not happy with the tariffs; they are going to bite, and the ordinary people are going to feel them," adding that these could limit the growth of small businesses. Speaking on the budget, Brian Mpono, CEO of the Oceans uMhlanga development, said: "The focus on infrastructure development, job creation, and social upliftment is timely and necessary—and aligns with the vision many of us in the private sector have long advocated." "Moreover, the commitment to public transport, bulk infrastructure, and turnaround strategies in key services is encouraging. However, these must be delivered with urgency and discipline. Our urban development cannot be hampered by bureaucracy when the private sector is ready to move and invest. Durban's growth story must reflect the aspirations of all who live, learn, and work here," he stated. Andrzej Kiepiela of the KZN Growth Coalition remarked, "We are indeed a developmental city. Now is the time to be an inclusive, future-focused one, driven by real-time collaboration between business, government, academia, and communities." "The expenditure budget has improved, showing that money is being spent effectively and how to avoid corruption and wasteful expenditure, returning focus to the delivery of projects. The budget is balanced and much better than last year," he said. Pastor and former ANC MPL Vusi Dube expressed excitement about seeing places like Albert Park coming back to life. "The city is regaining its strength and former glory," he added, noting that the interfaith structures will engage with the City on matters of moral regeneration, community development, homelessness, and drug abuse. Another attendee at the business breakfast, Zithulele Ndlele, expressed concerns about the lack of opportunities for the youth. "I wish to know the budget allocated for youth development. We need to address the issue of illegal foreigners who have hijacked and taken over all the small businesses in the entire South Beach precinct and tackle crime in the CBD." Mayor Cyril Xaba stated that the City had tried to reduce some of the tariff increases following pleas from residents who could not afford to pay the proposed increases. 'Because we fully appreciate the challenges our people face as a result of the difficult economic climate, we were able to make changes to the final budget and reduce our tariffs. 'We want to reiterate that the main focus of this budget is the replacement and rehabilitation of infrastructure to ensure efficient and effective service delivery.' THE MERCURY

IOL News
4 days ago
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eThekwini mayor unveils budget adjustments to boost economic growth and infrastructure
At the recent post-budget business breakfast held on Wednesday, eThekwini Municipality's Mayor, Cllr Cyril Xaba, addressed key stakeholders, including business leaders, city officials, and media representatives, to unveil the final budget for the 2025/26 financial year. The event marked a pivotal moment for the city, underscoring a collaborative effort to address the pressing challenges posed by an evolving economic landscape. Beginning his address, Xaba expressed gratitude to attendees for their participation in the budget consultation process, which aimed to foster transparency and inclusivity in financial planning. "We are pleased that most of the issues you raised were considered in the final budget," he said. Key issues highlighted during consultations included the unaffordability of tariffs that outpaced inflation and the imperative to enhance service delivery amid ageing infrastructure. In a response to these concerns, Xaba outlined significant tariff reductions designed to alleviate the financial burden on residents and businesses: Domestic water tariff reduced from 15% to 13% Business water tariff cut from 16% to 14% Sanitation tariffs decreased by 2% Average property rates increase lowered from 6.5% to 5.9% Refuse tariff for domestic households adjusted from 9.9% to 9% Electricity tariff remains unchanged at 12.72% Additionally, he said the province has made strides in the reclassification of vacant land, increasing the rebate on such properties from 10% to 30%. This initiative aims to encourage development and investment in the region, with particular incentives for agricultural lands transitioning to vacant statuses, he explained. He further highlighted that the the overall budget has seen a transformative reduction from the proposed R71.3 billion to R70.9 billion, comprising an operating budget of R63.6 billion and a capital budget of R7.3 billion. Xaba reaffirmed the municipality's commitment to infrastructure renewal, noting an increase in the capital budget to 10.3%—aligned with national norms for expansion and upgrade. In a broader context, the mayor outlined initiatives aimed at fostering economic development and job creation within the city. A considerable R600 million will be allocated to key economic nodes for catalytic projects expected to spur investments worth R217 billion, paving the way for the creation of approximately 300,000 jobs. Projects like the redevelopment of the beachfront, supported by a R2 billion investment from Southern Sun, are envisioned to redefine Durban's appeal as a premier tourism hub. Moreover, the city is actively pursuing inner-city regeneration projects, aiming to rejuvenate the central area with enhanced public safety, tackling homelessness, and eradicating dilapidated buildings. In collaboration with the national government, millions have been secured to facilitate these ambitious undertakings. As Xaba addressed the audience, he reiterated the importance of cooperation among all social partners to foster growth and maintain momentum in infrastructure improvements. "To achieve our vision of making eThekwini Africa's most caring and liveable city, a collective effort is required," he said.