Ethekwini: President Cyril Ramaphosa has highlighted the progress made in stabilizing the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal as a model for how coordinated leadership and partnerships can aid struggling municipalities in recovery efforts. In his weekly newsletter to the nation, the President emphasized that the metro's recovery is a testament to the power of collaboration among government, business, labor, and civil society in restoring service delivery and rebuilding investor confidence. According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa recently met with stakeholders of the Presidential eThekwini Working Group, a multi-sector initiative launched in 2024 following concerns from residents and businesses regarding deteriorating services and infrastructure in the city. The President noted that at the time, the metro was plagued by service delivery failures, deteriorating infrastructure, and declining business and investor confidence. However, two years later, interventions aimed at addressing these issues have led to a sustained recovery in the metro. The President highlighted tangible improvements, including the Durban Business Confidence Index reaching its highest level since its inception and a nearly 16% quarter-on-quarter increase in confidence within the manufacturing sector. This renewed optimism is reflected in the city's strong industrial base and its status as home to one of the country's largest ports. Tourism has also seen a significant rebound, with over 1.2 million visitors to the metro during the recent festive season. Infrastructure projects are underway, and there are noted improvements in safety and security coordination across the city. Despite these positive developments, President Ramaphosa cautioned that the challenges facing the metro have not been entirely resolved. He stressed that while stabilization is not equivalent to a complete turnaround, the experience of eThekwini provides a viable model of coordination and partnership that can be replicated i n other municipalities to enable recovery. The working group approach is based on the principles of the District Development Model, which aims to improve service delivery through collaboration across national, provincial, and local government levels. It also encourages partnerships with the private sector and civil society to accelerate local government turnaround strategies. The eThekwini metro has taken steps to strengthen public-private cooperation, particularly in infrastructure and catalytic development projects, by approving a Partnerships Framework last year. The President emphasized the importance of business participation in local government reform, as improved service delivery enhances the economic environment for companies. Drawing lessons from eThekwini, the government has established the Presidential Johannesburg Working Group to address challenges in governance, infrastructure, service delivery, safety, and urban renewal in the country's economic hub. President Ramaphosa acknowledged that fina ncial instability remains a significant challenge for many municipalities, with around two-thirds experiencing financial distress due to weak revenue management and rising debt levels. Without stronger revenue management and financial discipline, service delivery challenges will persist and backlogs will worsen. The government has allocated R27.7 billion over the next three years to support reforms in municipal water, sanitation, electricity, and waste management services. Additionally, the government is reviewing the White Paper on Local Government, which could lead to major reforms, including changes to municipal powers and responsibilities, improved appointment processes for senior officials, and stronger cooperation with traditional leadership institutions. The President noted that improvements in eThekwini are part of a broader program of reforms aimed at boosting economic growth and improving business confidence. He called on all stakeholders to work together, not for electoral gains, but to strengthen municipalities and restore the promise of local government to uphold the dignity and improve the lives of every citizen.
