Several municipalities in KZN are set to come under the spotlight during an oversight visit by the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa).

The committees will this week engage, among others, the uMhlathuze, Mtubatuba, uMkhanyakude, Nongoma and Mandeni municipalities.

The oversight, set to begin in Pietermaritzburg today (Tuesday), has been welcomed by the KZN Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Cogta.

“The Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Cogta [with] Scopa will conduct a joint oversight visit to engage with municipalities that have been identified by the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) as distressed or dysfunctional.

“This oversight programme, which will end on Friday, forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen governance, improve audit outcomes, and support better service delivery in municipalities.

“The focus remains on ensuring local government is accountable, financially sustainable, and responsive to community needs,” said KZN chairperson of the portfolio committee on Cogta, Merlaine Nair.

The committee will receive presentations from the national and provincial AGSA representatives.

“KwaZulu-Natal welcomes this initiative and looks forward to outcomes that support stronger municipal governance, improved financial management, and more effective service delivery — ultimately improving the lives of people across the province,” said Nair.

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