Facing mounting pressure to fix crumbling basic services, Msunduzi Municipality has applied for R3,2 billion in funding from Infrastructure South Africa to overhaul its ageing water and sanitation systems, while submitting business plans aimed at reducing escalating water losses. The two committees are on a five-day oversight programme in the province, with municipal briefings taking place at Pietermaritzburg City Hall. The visit focuses on governance, financial management and service delivery, with particular attention on the Auditor-General’s (AG) 2023/24 audit outcomes.
For the period under review, Msunduzi received a qualified audit opinion, with the AG flagging nearly R900 million in irregular, wasteful and fruitless expenditure. These included improper meter readings, R5,4 million in wasteful expenditure linked to the Woodlands Housing Project, and poor revenue management. Msunduzi received an unqualified audit outcome with findings for the 2024/25 financial year, indicating that the City produced credible and transparent financial statements, despite ongoing compliance challenges.
The oversight delegation was chaired by Cogta portfolio committee chairperson Dr Zweli Mkhize, who invited Msunduzi Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla to present the municipality’s response to the audit findings.Committee members questioned the deteriorating state of the city, non-compliance with municipal by-laws, the emergence of informal structures in parts of the central business district and the illegal extension of buildings. Thebolla acknowledged the municipality’s challenges, but said efforts were under way to improve performance.
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