EThekwini Municipality held its ordinary Full Council meeting today, 7 July, where the following items were approved.
CONDITIONS FOR DISPLAYING CAMPAIGN EVENTS AND ELECTION POSTERS FOR THE 2026 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS
To support a fair and orderly election campaign environment ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections, Council has approved conditions governing the placement of election and campaign event posters across the City.
The approved measures provide political parties and candidates with clear guidelines for election-related advertising while ensuring that public spaces are managed responsibly and that Municipal regulations are observed.
Council approved a limited waiver of certain provisions contained in the eThekwini Municipality Outdoor Advertising Bylaw, 2018, applicable only for the purposes of the Local Government Elections, scheduled for 4 November 2026.
Under the approved conditions, each political party or candidate will be permitted to display a maximum of 800 standard A1-sized posters per ward.
Posters may only be placed on Municipal electricity light poles, while designated routes including the Ruth First Highway/M4 Northern Freeway, Inkosi Albert Luthuli Freeway/M4 Southern Freeway and Higginson Highway will be opened for election-related advertising.
Designated beach areas will also be available for election advertising through flying banners only, limited to three weeks before election day.
Election-related wall murals will be permitted subject to compliance with Municipal requirements and prior approval.
All applications for election advertising must be submitted to the Municipality’s General Advertising Branch for assessment and compliance approval.
Political parties and candidates will be required to remove all election-related advertising within 30 days after the elections, failing which the Municipality will remove the material and recover the costs from the responsible party or candidate.
Applications must also be accompanied by a refundable deposit of R200 per political party/candidate per ward where posters will be displayed.
The approved waiver will apply only to the 2026 Local Government Elections.
APPROVAL OF THE DEMOLITION AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE JACOBS FIRE STATION
Full Council approved the demolition and reconstruction of the Jacobs Fire Station to restore critical fire and emergency response services in the area.
The station has been closed after assessments found it to be unsafe, structurally deteriorated and no longer compliant with building regulations.
Experts also determined that renovating the facility would not be practical or cost-effective.
The new fire station will provide a modern, fit-for-purpose facility that meets current operational standards and supports the growing needs of the Jacobs precinct, which has seen significant industrial growth and increased demand for emergency services.
The project, valued at R63.5 million, will be implemented over three financial years and is already at an advanced stage of planning and design.
PROGRESS IN SMART METER ROLLOUT
Full Council noted the Accounts Management Dashboard Overview Report for the month ending in May 2026, which highlighted progress in modernising the Municipality’s water and electricity metering systems to improve billing accuracy, reduce losses and strengthen revenue collection.
The report noted that the Smart Water Metering Programme has exceeded its annual installation target, with 1 865 smart water meters installed and a further 135 currently being rolled out in areas including uMhlanga, Westville, New Germany, Bellair and Amanzimtoti.
The programme is replacing ageing conventional meters with smart technology to reduce water losses, improve consumption monitoring, enhance billing accuracy and ensure the fair allocation of Free Basic Water.
Full Council also noted progress in the rollout of smart electricity meters, which are being introduced to address ageing infrastructure, faulty meters, electricity theft and billing inaccuracies.
The smart meters provide real-time consumption monitoring, tamper detection and improved integration with the Municipality’s billing and vending systems, helping to improve customer service and protect Municipal revenue.
The report further highlighted that approximately 95 percent of urban water meters are read and billed based on actual consumption.
It also acknowledged ongoing challenges, including faulty electricity meters awaiting replacement, which continue to contribute to estimated billing.
Full Council noted that the Accounts Management Section continues to implement measures to improve billing accuracy, ensure compliance with legislative requirements and enhance revenue collection.
STATE OF READINESS FOR HOSTING OF THE ICC MEN’S CRICKET WORLD CUP 2027
Full Council has approved eThekwini Municipality entering into an agreement with Cricket South Africa to host matches during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, further positioning Durban as a leading international destination for major sporting events, tourism and investment.
Council also authorised the City Manager to sign the Host City Agreement on behalf of the Municipality.
The agreement will enable Durban to participate in the hosting of this globally recognised tournament, which is expected to attract international visitors, media coverage, commercial partners and cricket supporters to the City.
The hosting of the Cricket World Cup matches presents an opportunity to showcase Durban’s tourism attractions, cultural heritage, sporting facilities and investment potential while stimulating economic activity across sectors such as hospitality, accommodation, transport, retail and entertainment.
The event is also expected to support local business opportunities, job creation and skills development.
The Executive Director for Community Services has been designated as the lead executive responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Host City Agreement within the Municipality.
An allocation of R600 000 has been provided in the 2026/27 financial year budget to support preparatory and implementation activities linked to the City’s Host City obligations.
Council noted that the full scope of Municipal responsibilities and related operational requirements will be finalised during the implementation process and will be incorporated into future budgeting and approval processes.
APPROVAL FOR 6 MONTHS EXTENSION OF CURRENT EPWP CONTRACTS
To ensure the uninterrupted delivery of essential Municipal services, Council has approved a six-month extension of contracts for current participants in the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP).
The extension will allow EPWP participants to continue supporting critical Municipal services, including community safety, service delivery, public health, social development, environmental management and local governance, while preparations are finalised for the appointment of new beneficiaries for the 2026/27 financial year.
Council also authorised the City Manager to enter into a grant agreement with the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure to secure EPWP grant funding for the next phase of the programme.
The funding will support the continued implementation of the EPWP and ensure a smooth transition to the new intake of beneficiaries.
PROGRESS IN STRENGTHENING EXPANDED PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME GOVERNANCE
Full Council noted the significant progress made in addressing findings raised by the Auditor-General on the implementation of the EPWP, following the introduction of stronger governance, verification and monitoring measures.
The findings related primarily to the 2020/21 financial year and included deceased, ineligible and fraudulent beneficiaries who had been incorrectly included in the programme.
Council noted that these historical irregularities have since been addressed, with all deceased, ghost and ineligible beneficiaries removed from the programme.
As a result of enhanced verification processes and continuous monitoring, no similar cases have been identified during the current financial year.
Council further noted that the Municipality has taken decisive action to address the irregularities.
Investigations conducted by the City Integrity and Investigation Directorate resulted in recommendations for disciplinary action against four officials, the initiation of recovery processes, the identification and removal of ineligible beneficiaries, recommendations to open criminal cases, and institutional reforms, including the centralisation of payment processes.
The Municipality is continuing with the recovery of funds where applicable, with letters of demand and summons already issued, as part of its commitment to strengthening accountability, improving governance and ensuring the effective implementation of the Expanded Public Works Programme.
Focus On Durban July 2026