Mayor outlines plan to fix local government in Ekurhuleni

The City of Ekurhuleni held its first ordinary council meeting for the year on January 30, with the Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza setting a decisive tone for the year ahead.

The mayor reflected on progress made, acknowledged persistent challenges, and outlined a programme to stabilise and “fix” local government.

He said this year carries both historical reflection and political anticipation.

“This year carries deep historical significance for democratic local government in South Africa. It marks the 28th anniversary of the establishment of our democratic local government system, which has enabled communities across the nation to elect representatives closest to their daily needs ad to participate directly in decisions that shape service delivery and development.

ALSO READ: City of Ekurhuleni steps up action against hijacked buildings

“Over these nearly three decades, local government has evolved from transitional structures into fully fledged municipalities charged with advancing the well-being of all residents,” said the mayor.

Borrowing from the words of former President Nelson Mandela, “I stand here before you not as a prophet, but as a humble servant of you, the people.”

The mayor positioned the administration as a “servant of the people,” aligning the city’s agenda with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s declaration that 2026 would be a year to fix local government.

He then urged the council to work tirelessly for residents.

“We must talk less and work tirelessly to realise this administration’s theme, ‘A responsive city, working with agility to restore service delivery’,” said Xhakaza.

ALSO READ: City of Ekurhuleni dismisses water poisoning claims, assures residents supply is safe

He said this year’s vision is anchored in six key pillars, including quality service provision, financial sustainability, infrastructure investment, economic development, and ethical governance.

“This is an administration of action, and the implementation of resolutions with the aim of positively transforming the lives of our people,” said the mayor.

He said that since he assumed office, the focus has been on stabilising municipal operations, improving financial management, accelerating infrastructure delivery, and ensuring responsive, people-centred service delivery.

While major strides have been made in this regard, they understand that there must be strengthened oversight and the enforcement of consequences for wrongdoing, and they support our administration in performing effectively and ethically.

ALSO READ: City of Ekurhuleni warns bidders of tender and quotation scam

Signs of financial stabilisation

The mayor said the city is showing early but encouraging signs of financial stabilisation.

For the second quarter, operating income reached R16.364b, slightly above projections, while operating expenditure stood at R30.9b against a mid-year income budget of R34.3b.

The mayor acknowledged ongoing structural challenges, particularly around revenue collection, liquidity and capital spending.

However, improved expenditure control and restraint across several departments were highlighted as positive developments helping to protect cash balances.

Revenue collection initiatives, especially within municipal entities, have begun to yield results.

Notably, rental revenue in the housing portfolio improved from 29% in the first quarter to 36%-39% in the second quarter, exceeding targets.

Water revenue and interest on overdue accounts also performed better than expected, despite continued underperformance in fines and penalties linked to the redevelopment of the traffic management system.

Coordinated enforcement and service delivery interventions

ALSO READ: WATCH: High court clears City of Ekurhuleni to evict Airport Park Phase 2 residents

He emphasised coordinated, multi-departmental operations aimed at enforcing by-laws, addressing non-compliance and protecting municipal infrastructure. Joint operations in Delville and Germiston targeted illegal connections, immigration compliance and unpaid municipal accounts, resulting in arrests, fines and the removal of illegal electricity and water connections.

Environmental management also featured prominently. A January 2026 intervention at the Weldevreeden Landfill Site addressed illegal activities and safety concerns, restoring full operational capacity and safeguarding waste management services.

The recommissioning of six waste removal trucks was cited as a further boost to frontline service delivery.

“These actions are about restoring confidence and functionality. Adding that visible enforcement is critical to rebuilding public trust,” said the mayor.

Revenue remains the cornerstone

Despite improvements, revenue collection remains a pressure point. The City achieved an 85.93% collection rate in the second quarter, below the 90% target, though the year-to-date rate stands at 90.73%. To address this, Council was told that credit control measures are being tightened and that customer engagement is being improved.

“Tightening credit control improves customer engagement and protects the city’s ability to deliver services, because when revenue is unstable, service delivery is the first to suffer,” said the mayor.

ALSO READ: City of Ekurhuleni vows to reduce reliance on contractors amid service delivery woes

He said high-profile revenue recovery operations at Rand Airport, factories and non-compliant businesses resulted in the collection of millions of rand in outstanding debt.

The city has also taken decisive action against non-compliant residential properties, including service disconnections in line with municipal by-laws.

He said moving forward, they will focus the city’s energy on the Siyakhokha Siyathuthuka campaign to ensure they inculcate a culture of payment in the city and collect much-needed revenue for service delivery.

Performance beyond the balance sheet

On non-financial performance, the city achieved 71% of its Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP) targets in the second quarter, improving to 72% at mid-year.

The Social Cluster and Governance and Economic Development Cluster led performance, while Metro Trading Services and Infrastructure were identified as areas requiring intensified intervention.

Ten departments achieved 100% of their targets at mid-year, including internal audit, legislature, human resources and development planning, signalling improved institutional capability in key governance areas.

Trading services and governance reforms

Council was briefed on advanced turnaround strategies for trading services, such as electricity, water and sanitation, and waste management, which are seen as critical to both revenue generation and service reliability. These reforms align with the National Treasury’s broader municipal reform agenda.

The mayor also addressed governance concerns arising from the Madlanga Commission, welcoming the establishment of a national investigations task team.

ALSO READ: Two new councillors sworn in at City of Ekurhuleni council

“Locally, steps have already been taken, including the suspension of a senior police official and a review of allegedly unlawful promotions.

The administration reaffirmed its “zero tolerance” stance on misconduct and pledged to strengthen consequence management and financial disclosure systems,” said the mayor.

Economic pressures and opportunity
Acknowledging the broader economic context, the mayor noted that while inflation has stabilised, households continue to face rising living costs.
Weak national growth, unemployment and global uncertainties remain challenges.
However, Ekurhuleni’s strategic location, industrial base and the Aerotropolis project were cited as key levers for economic recovery and job creation.

A call for renewed leadership

The mayor framed 2026 as a defining year for the city, calling for a cultural shift across the administration, from bureaucracy to action and from compliance to purpose-driven leadership.

Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening internal capacity, reducing reliance on contractors, and improving frontline services, highlighted by the rollout of tools to the Energy Department in Kempton Park.

ALSO READ: City of Ekurhuleni urges online safety as learners return for 2026 school year

“Fix local government cannot remain a concept confined to council chambers; it must become a daily, lived commitment by every public servant entrusted with the responsibility of building a capable and responsive city,” said Xhakaza.

He commended the city manager’s Fixing the Front-Line programme and said it was a welcome intervention aimed at ensuring that staff are motivated enough and well-equipped to deliver on their core mandate.