Ratings Afrika names KwaDukuza top-performing KZN municipality

KwaDukuza Municipality has been named the best-performing municipality in KwaZulu-Natal by Ratings Afrika.

KwaDukuza outperformed 16 of the province’s largest municipalities by budget and population, chosen from 44 total KwaZulu-Natal municipalities and metros.

The announcement was made at the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) Convention 2025 at Sun City on October 2. The SAPOA or Ratings Afrika municipal performance awards, hosted in partnership with the Banking Association of South Africa (BASA), celebrate municipalities that demonstrate strong governance and sound financial management.

The awards are based on the Municipal Financial Sustainability Index (MFSI®), a model that evaluates six key financial components: operating performance, liquidity management, debt governance, budget practices, affordability, and infrastructure development. Each municipality is scored out of 100. KwaDukuza achieved a score above 60, placing it well above the provincial average of 39, which remained unchanged from 2023.

According to Ratings Afrika, scores below 50 reflect poor financial management and weak fiscal discipline, leaving many municipalities unsustainable and, in some cases, dysfunctional in providing basic services. Common challenges include weak liquidity, large operating deficits, and deteriorating infrastructure due to inadequate maintenance.

Ratings Afrika is an independent South African governance ratings agency that measures and promotes financial sustainability in municipalities, provinces, state-owned entities, and private companies.

KwaDukuza Mayor Siduduzo Gumede described the achievement as a true measure of property development, economic growth, and sound governance.

“The province of KwaZulu-Natal can no longer be mentioned without the mention of KwaDukuza as a key strategic area that contributes significantly to the growth of the province,” he said.

The top four municipalities in the country were Swartland, Saldanha Bay, Swellendam and Hessequa, all in the Western Cape, and the City of Cape Town was named the country’s best metro.

Per province, the best-performing municipalities were KwaDukuza (KwaZulu-Natal), Midvaal (Gauteng), Kouga (Eastern Cape), Metsimaholo (Free State), Greater Tzaneen (Limpopo), City of Mbombela (Mpumalanga), Dawid Kruiper (Northern Cape) and JB Marks (North West).

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