
This morning, the eThekwini Municipality firmly dismissed allegations on social media claiming it is financially insolvent and failing to deliver basic services. City Manager Musa Mbhele reassured residents that the Municipality remains in sound financial standing and will continue rendering services as budgeted for in the 2024/25 year.
The decision to release this response was prompted by the rapid spread of fake news, which the municipality had observed circulating on media platforms such as WhatsApp. These rumours include claims such as, “The municipality’s departments are unable to deliver necessary services due to a bleak financial situation.”
The allegations specifically mention departments such as Water and Sanitation, Parks, Recreation and Cemeteries, Electricity, and Cleansing and Solid Waste.
The municipality has labelled these allegations as “a smear campaign aimed at tarnishing the image of the Municipality.”
The Municipality is currently conducting its mid-term performance review in line with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). While we have noted that some expenditure items are higher than expected, this is due to factors such as the recent heatwave, which impacted our electricity substations, and persistent heavy rains affecting water infrastructure.
Mbhele noted that the mid-term review will inform an adjustment budget to be finalised at the February Council meeting. He emphasised that the adjustment process is routine and was similarly undertaken in previous financial years to accommodate the municipality’s complex operations.
The eThekwini Municipality also directly addressed other allegations, including claims that plumbers are not being dispatched to fix water leaks and that grass-cutting services are not being maintained.
“The Water Network Branch responsible for this function continues to deploy both internal and contracted plumbers to attend to burst pipes and leaks in order for the City to save water,” as read in the statement.
Additionally, they assured residents that grass-cutting services and maintenance of verginges continue in line with the annual grass-cutting cycle.
Mbhele further assured residents that the city has not only improved its planning but also aligned its business processes to ensure accurate and realistic budgets, thereby reducing reliance on virements and adjustment budgets.