The City of Mbombela (CoM) executive mayor, Cllr Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko’s, final State of the City Address noted service delivery statistics and triumphs, reflecting on her journey that began in November 2021.

She addressed residents from the City’s council chamber on June 26.

“When the current council took office, we made a promise to the people of Mbombela. A promise of honesty, that we would not hide behind jargon when there were backlogs. A promise that we would measure ourselves not by press releases, but by taps that flow, lights that stay on, and roads that hold when it rains,” she said.

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Makushe-Mazibuko said the backlog stands at 71 381 households without reliable and consistent water supply, while 18 060 lack access to flush sanitation. About 4% of households do not have access to electricity.

“Since 2021, we have energised 6 340 households. In 2025/26 alone, 522 more families received electricity for the first time. We also secured a R95 million grant for smart meters. Phase 1 will install 15 000 smart meters. No more estimated billing, faster fault detection, and reduced theft, helping to keep the supply stable.”

The CoM has 4 635 km of road network, of which 920 km is tarred or paved, up from the 803 km inherited by the council, reflecting significant infrastructure development. The remaining 3 715 km consists of gravel roads.

About 57.7% of households, 124 058 across all four regions still await formalisation and inclusion in weekly waste collection services. The service currently reaches 90 946 formal households (42.3% of the formal household base) and 14 000 informal dwellings.

“To close this gap, we have procured 15 additional waste compactor trucks to increase collection capacity and fleet reliability. Illegal dumping remains our most persistent challenge. We have strategically placed skip bins in high-risk areas and have strengthened our admission of guilt framework to ensure meaningful deterrence.”

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She said that in the 2026/27 financial year, the council will establish specialised units to tackle land invasions, illegal water connections and electricity theft, which reduce municipal revenue, destabilise communities and undermine service delivery infrastructure.

In line with the CoM’s security master plan, R7 million has been allocated for the establishment of a Security Operations Centre, an integrated war room that will consolidate real-time camera monitoring and command coordination across all four regions of the municipality.

“This is not merely surveillance infrastructure. It is the nerve centre of a smarter, safer city. Our CCTV expansion programme is now visibly operational in Barberton, KaNyamazane, KaBokweni, Pienaar, and Henshall and Anderson streets in Mbombela, which are all areas previously identified as hotspots for drug dealing, public drinking and general lawlessness. Residents in these areas are already experiencing the deterrent effect of visible, active surveillance.”

The total operating revenue projected for 2026/27 is R5.112 billion, with operating expenditure of R4.636 billion and a R477 million surplus.

The CoM has budgeted for the following in the new financial year:
• Regravelling of roads – R35m
• Resealing of roads – R25m
• Maintenance of water infrastructure -R40m
• Water tankers – R20m
• Street lighting maintenance – R10m
• Grading of sports fields – R2m
• Maintenance of buildings and facilities – R30m
• Maintenance of dumping sites – R15m
• Maintenance of traffic lights – R5m
• Local economic development programmes – R15m
• Fleet maintenance – R10m
• Formalisation of informal settlements – R10m
• HIV/AIDS programmes – R5m
• Implementation of the youth development strategy – R3m.

“We are completing projects already running, and we will not start 20 new projects and finish none. We will finish what we started – the Delta Substation, Msholozi Substation, Nyongane Water Reticulation Phase 4, and Dayizenza Fire Station,” she said.

Makushe-Mazibuko said low participation in the indigent support programme, as well as illegal connections and revenue losses, contributed to the main challenges of effective service delivery.

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“I am proud, because when we took office in 2021, we inherited backlogs measured in decades. Today, we report progress measured in kilometres of road, megalitres of water, households electrified, parks built, and youth trained. And to the people of Mbombela, across all 45 wards, in all four regions, under all 10 traditional councils – thank you for your patience. Thank you for your partnership. Thank you for your hope,” she said.