Date: 2025-06-27 11:09:51
Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan Approved
ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
26 JUNE 2025
FULL COUNCIL DECISIONS
EThekwini’s 2025/2026 Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP) has been approved by Council.
This is a guiding plan compiled to monitor the implementation of programmes and projects contained in the Integrated Development Plan.
The document provides both financial as well as non-financial performance indicators, which are used to monitor and evaluate quarterly and yearly service delivery targets.
The 2025/26 SDBIP outlines the plans of the Municipality to continue living up to its legislative mandate and has been developed to be in line with the new Municipal Macro Structure (organogram).
In addition, it includes the Trading Services reform indicators, as the City has embarked on a process of turning around its Water, Electricity, and Cleansing and Solid Waste Directorates.
Key to note in the SDBIP is the inclusion of capital projects in progress to ensure correlation of actual performance with capital budget expenditure.
Furthermore, it has cross-cutting performance indicators, which include audit outcomes, capital expenditure, and contract management.
*APPROVAL OF THE FINAL DRAFT OF THE 2025/2026 MUNICIPAL SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK REVIEW*
The final draft of the 2025/2026 Municipal Spatial Development Framework (SDF) has been adopted.
The 2025/26 SDF serves as the City’s primary spatial planning tool, designed to guide land use, infrastructure investment, and sustainable development.
As a legislative requirement under the Municipal Systems Act and the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, the SDF provides a long-term vision for spatial transformation, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.
It addresses historical spatial imbalances and promotes inclusive development by identifying priority areas for investment and growth, including urban densification, rural development, and environmental conservation.
The SDF is closely aligned with the Municipality’s Integrated Development Plan and budget priorities.
It informs infrastructure development by identifying key projects and spatial priorities that support the City’s strategic goals.
For the 2025/26 review, the SDF integrates updated population projections, revised mapping, and sector-specific plans, ensuring alignment with national and provincial frameworks.
The City undertakes extensive public and stakeholder consultations, including traditional councils, ward committees, and provincial departments, reinforcing its role as a participatory and inclusive planning instrument.
Importantly, the SDF supports the eThekwini Municipality’s District Development Model by fostering intergovernmental coordination and aligning spatial planning with service delivery.
As a five-year Spatial Development Plan, it links directly to the City Infrastructure Delivery and Management System, ensuring that capital investment is strategically directed.
This integration ensures that infrastructure projects – such as roads, housing, and utilities – are implemented in areas where they will have the greatest socio-economic impact.
In conclusion, the SDF is not just a technical document but a transformative tool that shapes how eThekwini grows and evolves.
By aligning spatial planning with budgetary priorities and community needs, it ensures that development is equitable, efficient, and environmentally responsible.
As the City prepares for future growth, the SDF will remain central to guiding decisions that affect land use, infrastructure, and the quality of life for all residents.
**REQUEST FOR AUTHORITY TO CONTINUE FUNDING THE GREEN CORRIDORS PROGRAMME **
The City’s Economic Development and Planning Directorate has been granted authority to continue funding the Green Corridors Programme to further the development, growth, and competitiveness of the tourism and waste beneficiation sectors.
Additionally, authority has been granted to enter into a new three-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Green Corridors NPC for the ongoing implementation of the Green Corridors Programme.
The MOA is for the period starting from 1 July 2025 to 30 June 2028.
According to the report, the programme aims to be transformational by being pro-poor and youth and women-focused, while also being spatially targeted at developing township, peri-urban, and rural areas.
It focuses on the socio-economic stimulation of local areas through the leisure and tourism economy.
The MOA includes the disbursement of funds to Green Corridors to the amount of R5 843 000.00 (five million eight hundred and forty-three thousand rand) excluding VAT for each of the 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years, in terms of Section 67 of the MFMA and in accordance with the MOA.
Background information was given that the Green Corridors Programme is a triple bottom line sustainable development programme with an interactive mix of environmental, social, and economic sub-programmes.
The main objective is to maximise the performance of the Municipality’s green spaces as a social, economic, and environmental asset in support of economic growth and development, job creation, and quality of life in townships and rural areas in particular.
*REQUEST FOR BUDGET REPRIORITISATION FOR ENGINEERING DIRECTORATE*
The Full Council granted authority to the City’s Engineering Directorate to reprioritise savings in the amount of R42 800 000.00 (forty-two million eight hundred thousand rand) to address urgent and strategic projects that are already in progress.
The savings will be transferred from the Engineering Directorate’s Capital Budget as declared by the Roads Provision Department.
According to the report, Roads Provision had originally intended to upgrade and rehabilitate various roads within eThekwini during the 2024/2025 financial year.
However, the recent ongoing rainfalls have negatively impacted contractors’ productivity on site, with significantly reduced output being achieved.
As a result, the Roads Provision Department will not be able to fully utilise its allocated 2024/2025 budget.
The proposed reallocation of funds will be utilised on the Coastal Stormwater and Catchment Management Department’s current Prospection Road Canal Project, the Roads Stormwater and Maintenance Department’s Low Volume Gravel Road Upgrade Programme, and Roads Provision for four major projects.
These include the rehabilitation of the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Freeway (M4) Inbound, the Blundell/Shallcross Road and Bridge, the Coedmore Road and Bridge, and Road 108093 (Hunslet Road) Road and Bridge Construction.
*APPROVAL OF WAYLEAVES AND EXCAVATION BY-LAW*
To regulate all work to be executed in any public road reserve and Municipal servitude within the City, Council approved the 2022 Wayleaves and Excavations By-law for final publication and promulgation in the Provincial Gazette, with the by-law taking effect six months from the date of publication.
Currently, eThekwini Municipality does not have a by-law that regulates wayleaves and excavations within the City.
According to the report, excavations within eThekwini have become a major source of contention, and there have been various legal battles in relation to excavations.
Municipal assets have been damaged by internal and external service providers, necessitating the need for protection through regulated processes and procedures through legislation.
ENDS
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