Municipality reflects on 100 days of progress under mayor Cyril Xaba

The eThekwini Municipality marked 100 days under the leadership of Mayor Cyril Xaba recently, showcasing significant development in governance, infrastructure, and economic growth.

Mr Xaba, in his recent address, said there was progress in stabilising the city, accelerating service delivery, and boosting business confidence.

The mayor credited cooperation among political parties in the council as a key driver of stability, with open and transparent governance being central to their approach.

“It’s through this co-operation that eThekwini continues to be politically stable,” Mr Xaba said.

He said the city was financially stable with no debt to Eskom and consistent payments for bulk water purchases. It is one of the few municipalities with unqualified audits from the Auditor-General, though Mr Xaba acknowledges on-going improvements, particularly in tackling mal-administration. To this end, disciplinary backlogs were reduced from 334 to just four, and eight companies were blacklisted for corruption, totalling 32 blacklisted entities.

The City’s efforts to curb corruption and create a positive investor environment are paying off, he said, with the Business Confidence Index for eThekwini rising to 63% in the third quarter. This increase, according to Mr Xaba, is a reflection of an encouraging economic climate for investors.

To maintain Durban’s reputation as a premier event destination, the municipality allocated R236 million for rehabilitating Moses Mabhida Stadium, operational for 15 years. Planned upgrades include a new viewing platform, a “Sky Car,” an enhanced Big Swing, a zip line, and a sea-facing bungee option, reinforcing the stadium’s status as a key tourist attraction and revenue generator.

“Tackling water issues was prioritised, with Friday meetings dedicated to water and sanitation since last month. Major improvements have already been seen in water supplies to northern areas like uMhlanga, and projects under way in southern areas are expected to yield results soon. Moreover, the city’s water and sanitation strategy is the first of its kind among metros, drawing commendation from the National Treasury,” said Mr Xaba.

He said the City was making great efforts to upgrade sewage pump stations and wastewater plants that have seen 20 out of 23 city beaches re-opened.

“This environmental focus includes rigorous water quality testing to keep beaches safe and transparent public sharing of results,” he said.

In addition, he said the municipality’s spring-cleaning campaign highlighted a shared responsibility to maintain the city’s cleanliness, supported by upgrades in solid waste facilities.

“Urban regeneration has made significant headway, with 11 derelict buildings demolished and hijacked buildings reclaimed. To boost inner-city safety, 178 high-performance vehicles were procured for Metro Police, and a co-operation agreement with SAPS aims to combat crime effectively,” said Mr Xaba.

Consultations with business leaders showed the need for enhanced water, sanitation, and developmental processes. Mr Xaba noted that accelerated approvals in building applications and other permits were fostering business confidence. The re-opening of the Hilton Hotel and the R1 billion Elangeni and Maharani re-development illustrated a thriving tourism and property market.

Improving customer billing and revenue generation remained key, said the mayor, with customer-centric strategies such as the debt relief programme for high bills and deceased estates debt write-offs.

“Additionally, a municipal app with over 117 000 downloads now allows residents to report utility issues and submit meter readings – a move that enhances billing accuracy,” said Mr Xaba.