A series of consultation meetings on the draft Annual Report are underway. A meeting was held on 15 February with people with disabilities in Pinetown.

ETHEKWINI Municipality’s draft Annual Report for 2023/ 2024 was approved at the recent Council meeting for public engagement. The Annual Report is a legal document that the Municipality must provide to the public that describes the operations and the financial conditions of the City. It highlights some of the key achievements and challenges experienced over the past financial year. The draft Annual Report cited an increase in the achievement rate in the City’s performance from 77.03% in 2022/23 to 87.56% in 2023/24.

The Municipality prides itself of this improvement, despite natural disasters and budgetary constraints experienced by the City during the past year. EThekwini Speaker Councillor Thabani Nyawose said as the leadership of eThekwini, they welcome the achievement. “This highlights our commitment and resilience to ensure effective and efficient service delivery. We prioritise the wellbeing of communities and work to create an environment that will drive economic growth,” he said. The report notes that transport infrastructure has seen substantial improvements, enhancing connectivity and accessibility. Advances in the water and sanitation sector have also improved public health and living conditions, while strides have been made in providing quality housing and addressing informal settlements.

The Municipality achieved a 93 percent collection rate in 2023/24 and aims to improve to over 95 percent in the 2024/25 financial year. Strategies to enhance financial performance include increasing disconnections, timely meter readings, and the Debt Relief Programme. A series of engagements are planned with various sectors to unpack the Annual Report to allow the public to comment on it. The first engagement was held with people with disabilities where the report highlighted the progress made by the Municipality in addressing matters related to people with disabilities. The document is available on Municipal platforms for the public to make their comments and inputs. The draft Annual Report is available on the City’s website. The report is also accessible electronically at City libraries and Sizakala Centres. The public has until 14 March to comment.