With renewed focus on accountability and efficiency, the City of Mbombela’s (CoM) executive mayor, Cllr Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko, presided over a three-day high-level Mayoral Lekgotla.

The session, held at the Nombolo Mdhluli Conference Centre in the Kruger National Park, ran from February 16 to 18.

Under the theme “Collective leadership for accelerated service delivery and sustainable development,” the gathering served as a critical planning event for the city’s future.

According to Makushe-Mazibuko, all municipal Section 56 managers came together to report, reflect, and plan.

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“These lekgotlas are vital governance tools used by South African municipalities to align administrative actions with political mandates. However, this session carried particular weight. Following a year of infrastructure challenges and shifting economic pressures, it focused on turning away from ‘quick-fix’ solutions toward a culture of long-term sustainability. The primary goal was to audit last year’s progress reports, identify bottlenecks which hampered service delivery, and develop a unified action plan for 2026,” Makushe-Mazibuko explained.

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She added that the outcomes of deliberations would not merely remain discussions, but would guide the 2026/27 Integrated Development Plan Review and upcoming budget.

Once finalised, these programmes and projects would be tabled before the council.

“This will ensure the CoM’s financial resources are allocated to those areas which would most significantly improve the quality of life for Mbombela’s residents,” said Makushe-Mazibuko.

During the Lekgotla, South African Local Government Association representatives discussed the critical roles and responsibilities of various governance structures within the council to improve oversight and minimise administrative friction.

Makushe-Mazibuko urged the municipal departments to work together to provide efficient service delivery and streamline functions.

She said it was necessary to identify overlapping areas to ensure financial resources are used prudently and without waste.

A call was also made to all departments to embrace technology and maximise available digital tools to protect the city’s revenue and enhance service tracking.

“The overall message from my office is clear: service delivery must be accelerated. By focusing on ‘collective leadership,’ the municipality aims to move into the 2026/27 financial year with a more streamlined administration capable of meeting the community’s needs, fostering a resilient urban environment,” said Makushe-Mazibuko.