The DA in eThekwini condemns Council’s approval of high-performance scores for the City Manager and Deputy City Managers (DCM) responsible for Finance, Governance and International Relations, and Corporate and Human Capital.
The DCM for Finance scored 4.23/ 5, the City Manager 4.08, the DCM for Governance and International Relations 3.94, and the DCM for Corporate and Human Capital 3.83.
These scores, which determine eligibility for performance bonuses, were awarded through an evaluation process conducted by a panel dominated by ANC councillors and are difficult to reconcile with the state of the Municipality.
By July 2026, eThekwini’s uncollected debt stood at R48.679 billion, having increased by R1.6 billion in one month and 21.7% year-on-year. This is equivalent to 64.6% of the City’s R75.3 billion annual budget.
For the 2024/25 financial year, eThekwini incurred approximately R4.54 billion in Irregular, Fruitless and Wasteful expenditure, according to the Municipality’s later audited reporting.
At the same time, Council approved a R2.8 million municipal rebranding project, while residents continue to face serious service-delivery challenges.
The water crisis alone paints a stark picture. Non-revenue water reached 65% in June 2026, more than 13,000 leaks remained outstanding in July, communities endured prolonged water interruptions and reliance on tankers, and the contractor plumber dispute continued to disrupt the City’s ability to repair leaks and bursts.
These are not the hallmarks of an administration deserving of such high-performance scores. Residents are entitled to question how senior management can be rewarded at this level while the Municipality faces failures of this scale.
At the upcoming local government elections, residents will have the opportunity to assess this record and decide who should govern eThekwini.