KZN mayors meet to discuss local government elections, municipal expenditure

In an attempt to address key governance and service delivery matters, all mayors from across KZN gathered for a special meeting with the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi.

The meeting was held in Durban on March 12, and all 54 of KZN’s municipalities received briefings on preparations for the 2026 Local Government Elections, municipal expenditure on infrastructure grants such as the Municipal Infrastructure Grant, progress on the Review of the White Paper on Local Government and the 2024/25 municipal audit outcomes.

A key development highlighted was the increase in the number of councillors in the province from 2 088 in 2021 to 2 166 for the upcoming elections.

“The adjustment will help councils serve communities more effectively by strengthening representation and oversight at ward level,” said Buthelezi.

“It is a practical step to improve accountability and service delivery.”

The IEC’s provincial electoral officer, Ntombifuthi Masinga, also had the opportunity to present the state of readiness for elections scheduled between November 2 this year and January 30, 2027.

The MEC mentioned that the meeting has affirmed the provincial government’s commitment to support all voting stations by ensuring reliable access to water, sanitation, electricity and safe access roads, enabling smooth voter registration and voting.

On infrastructure delivery, the meeting noted KZN’s R3.829b Municipal Infrastructure Grant allocation for 2025/26, with R2.499b spent as at February 2026.

“Cogta continues to support municipalities through targeted technical deployments, weekly monitoring, and focused interventions where required,” added the MEC.

“The grant remains a key instrument enabling municipalities to deliver essential services, including water, sanitation, electricity and roads.”

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