THE eThekwini Municipality is investing in the well-being of its employees with the official opening of a state-of-the-art wellness centre in Morningside which has received mixed reactions from ratepayers.

The SINAWE Wellness Centre on Montpelier Road, opposite Mitchell Park Zoo, “is designed to empower employees to thrive, grow and deliver outstanding results in their respective roles”.

Municipal spokesperson Gugu Sisilana said the centre is designed to strengthen the well-being, resilience and productivity of eThekwini employees.

At the opening on Friday, Councillor Nkosenhle Madlala, eThekwini chairperson of the Governance and Human Resources Committee, described the launch as a transformative milestone in building a healthier and high-performing workforce.

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He said, “This initiative recognises that our employees are our greatest asset and that their physical, emotional and psychological well-being is fundamental to service delivery excellence.”

The SINAWE Wellness Centre offers a comprehensive suite of emotional, psychological and general wellness services tailored to promote holistic well-being and strengthen resilience among employees.

The Director of the Human Resources Directorate, Sihle Mkhize, called the move a huge milestone for the City, praising eThekwini for prioritising employee wellness. “By prioritising employee well-being, we are not only changing lives but also strengthening our ability to serve communities with excellence,” said Mkhize.

“A healthy workforce directly translates into improved productivity and enhanced service delivery to communities. When we invest in the wellness of our staff, we strengthen the very foundation upon which the municipality serves residents with dignity, efficiency and compassion.”

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Mkhize added that when employees are supported and thriving, communities experience tangible improvements in service delivery. This, however, did not sit well with some ratepayers who blasted the municipality, saying it must prioritise residents.

On Facebook, Deven Naicker said, “Prioritise service to the community first, imagine waiting three months for a water meter that is resold to the municipality.”

His sentiments were shared by Thiza Ngunezi who said, “Busy enforcing for elites while your citizens have been the victims of water and electricity reductions. We have no water in our taps as we speak. We are leaderless until changes.”

Supporting the initiative, Vukani Ntanzi simply said, “Good job” to the City.

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