ETHEKWINI Municipality’s Council tabled the draft 2025/26 Medium Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework (MTREF) for consideration at a special meeting held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre yesterday (May 26). The budget is said to prioritise infrastructure rehabilitation to accelerate service delivery, as well as economic development.

The MTREF comprises a total budget of R70.9b for the upcoming fiscal year. This includes a R63.6b operating budget and a R7.3b capital budget. The City believes that this budget is expected to attract billions of rands of investment in development projects that will catapult the City into a new era of prosperity

DA eThekwini Caucus Leader, Thabani Mthethwa, indicated that the Ethekwini municipality lacks visionary leadership, whose priorities are skewed.

Also read: Ratepayers, opposition reject City R70b budget plan

“It’s not the issue of lack of resources. In this current, soon-to-end financial year, the municipality has spent less than 6% of its maintenance budget, but infrastructure is crumbling across the city. They prioritise borrowing money instead of collecting the over R38b owed to the city. Water distribution losses stand at 58%, but the maintenance budget is not spent. This is very concerning, but something the mayor also picked up, as he is now on record by admitting that we will start the new financial year with no money,” Mthethwa said.

“Last year, when I assumed office, we indicated that our priorities will include, among others, provision of uninterrupted water supply, improving customer care, and building an economically sustainable city. The budget emphasises turnaround strategies for trading services to enhance efficiency and improve the quality of life of residents,” said Mayor Cyril Xaba.

Also read: Ratepayers express mistrust over City’s water strategy

“We have noted the water-related issues that were raised during the budget hearings, which include water meters being out of stock, water outages, water leaks, ageing infrastructure, as well as flood damages that have not yet been repaired. Despite these challenges, the municipality is making significant strides in transforming our water and sanitation services,” he said.

The DA reluctantly notes the content of the  tabled report  as a “meticulous record of the demise of a once flourishing and cash rich city under the stewardship of the ANC and its alliances”.

The MTREF will be tabled for approval on Thursday, May 29.

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