eThekwini Municipality allocates R333 million for community infrastructure projects

The eThekwini Municipality will spend R333 million on Community Infrastructure Projects (CIP) in the 111 municipal wards during the 2025/26 financial year. 

Councillors gave the nod to the budget item at a council meeting on Thursday.

The CIP lump sum is fully financed, as approved by the council within the 2025/2026 Financial Year Medium Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework (MTREF).

This subsequently requires a budget unbundling process and direct funding allocations into relevant departments for service providers based on submissions made by ward councillors. 

In preparation for the CIP block sum, a process of scoping and quantifying work had to be undertaken. This is executed utilising a team of professionals, departmental champions, social facilitators and ward councillors. The process normally takes two to three months, depending on the availability of all stakeholders.

The budget is to be unbundled and controlled within the programme management directorate that reports to the operations management department. Previously, the budget was unbundled through different departments, and this had raised concerns over risks of a lack of central accountability, as work is implemented in a fragmented approach.

The CIP Programme appointed professional consultants at the end of July 2025 to support packaging, documentation and implementation of the programme. A tender process is also underway to appoint regional managing contractors to be responsible for the implementation of all projects within the regional footprint. 

The tender award in this regard is anticipated to be made before the end of November 2025.

In the event of delays in finalising the tender process, the Directorate has developed alternative options to ensure that the process continues as planned.

Remona McKenzie, DA eThekwini councillor, stated that consultation processes around CIP funding were too often marked by limited transparency and that decisions were taken without adequate community input, leaving residents uncertain and at times mistrustful of the very same municipality meant to serve them.

She said this lack of openness weakened confidence in governance and slowed the progress people strive for.

 “We still have much to do, due to the ineffective planning, lack of resources and lack of accountability measures for each project that aims to address services in the communities,” she said. 

At the council meeting, McKenzie highlighted previous challenges of the CIP:

• The three‑year contracts that were not renewed or advertised in time for budget consultation created uncertainty and delays.
• CIP projects were not implemented within the allocated budget time frame, leaving communities waiting for promised improvements.
• Budget allocation for CIP has raised serious questions, how it should be managed, and the lack of transparency in actual expenditure.
• Feedback and engagement throughout the implementation process have been insufficient, weakening public trust and accountability.

• Questions remain about what was allocated to the scope of work in terms of requirements, specifications and expenditure.
• The financial implications of these projects have not been clearly communicated.
• Scope of work and necessary documentation have not always been properly aligned with community needs or shared openly.

McKenzie said that the DA noted the improvements and commitment to improve consultation.

“We will continue to follow up on these projects and make sure there is accountability. The consultation process has been reformed to ensure that transparency and accountability are no longer aspirations; they are requirements,” she said. 

McKenzie said that every stage of CIP funding now demands openness, fairness, and genuine engagement with residents.

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