Mayor Cyril Xaba addresses governance challenges in eThekwini Municipality

In a resolute address during the Executive Committee (EXCO) meeting held on 24 June 2025, eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Councillor Cyril Xaba, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability, amidst rising concerns over recent court rulings that have cast doubt on the municipality's management capabilities.

This commitment comes at a crucial time as the city grapples with potential lawsuits stemming from flood damage that affected Toyota Motors in 2022.Mayor Xaba opened the meeting by welcoming members of the council, senior management, and representatives from the media, emphasising that the administration was aware of the trust deficit among residents.

“The events of the past two weeks... might have created some doubts in the minds of our residents,” he stated, acknowledging the historical context of these legal challenges.

Expressing particular concern about the implications of possibly losing further court battles, Xaba noted, “I am planning to meet the Toyota management soon to understand the rationale behind this move.”

He highlighted the financial implications for the city, warning that the municipality “can’t afford this” and calling for urgent administrative reforms.

Addressing governance issues, Xaba underscored the need for significant improvements in contract management, identifying it as a critical area contributing to recent legal setbacks.

“We call upon management to aggressively re-evaluate its systems with the aim of closing these serious gaps,” he urged.

As part of this initiative, he highlighted plans to automate contract management and appoint a professional team to strengthen oversight.

The mayor’s remarks reflect a broader strategy to adopt an unconventional approach to the city's governance challenges, as indicated by a push towards enhanced monitoring and accountability in public spending.

Notably, Xaba addressed the findings from a recent report indicating that the capital expenditure was below 75%, signalling operational inefficiencies that hinder service delivery.

During discussions, he emphasised that low capital spending not only jeopardised municipal services but also impacts community trust and satisfaction.

Citing an example of job losses stemming from poor service delivery—such as the relocation of Clover’s cheese processing facility due to water and electricity challenges—Xaba highlighted the real-world consequences of governance failures.

“Sustained levels of low capital spending... could also be symptomatic of governance failure,” he cautioned, linking financial mismanagement directly to the municipality's constitutional obligations to provide essential services.

Addressing the critical issue of resource allocation, Xaba reiterated the need for effective spending strategies to ensure uninterrupted essential services, proper waste management, and improved infrastructure.

He stressed that the municipal officials must actively work towards meeting community needs rather than becoming obstacles themselves.

As part of ongoing reforms, Xaba announced plans to implement mandatory procurement plans for all departments to streamline service delivery and improve accountability.

“The blame game will be a thing of the past,” he asserted, underlining the necessity for all departments to align spending with their respective budgets effectively.

The meeting concluded with Mayor Xaba expressing gratitude for the support received from the City Manager and senior executives, saying, “We are a city at work,” highlighting a concerted effort to address the governance challenges head-on.

DAILY NEWS