Cogta MEC warns against underspending of infrastructure grants

KwaZulu-Natal municipalities have been urged to strengthen service delivery, improve revenue collection and ensure infrastructure grants are fully spent as the province prepares for the next local government elections. Addressing the provincial Municipal Intergovernmental Forum in Durban on Thursday, KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi said municipalities must remain stable and functional as the current municipal term draws to a close. The meeting, held at the Coastlands Hotel in Musgrave, brought together mayors, municipal managers, traditional leaders and representatives from several state institutions to discuss governance and service delivery challenges across the province.

Buthelezi said municipalities were the “coalface of service delivery”, where residents interact directly with government. “Basic services such as water, sanitation, electricity, refuse removal and roads must be delivered efficiently and consistently to our communities,” he said. With the country preparing for the next municipal elections, Buthelezi said early preparations were essential to ensure a smooth electoral process.

He added that voter education campaigns would also be intensified across the province, particularly to encourage young people to register and participate in the democratic process. “The youth form a significant portion of our population, and it is important that they participate actively in shaping the future of our democracy,” he said. Buthelezi also warned municipalities against failing to spend infrastructure grants allocated for service delivery.