EThekwini Municipality, alongside various spheres of government, including the Office of the Presidency and business leaders, convened at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre yesterday as part of the Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG) to workshop the new Development and Service Delivery Partnering Policy Framework.
The framework reflects a collective commitment to creating a more enabling environment for collaboration and marks a significant step towards operationalising a policy aimed at improving service delivery and stimulating economic growth in the City.
The engagement was officially opened by PeWG Co-Chairperson, Michael Mabuyakhulu, who emphasised that the meeting focused on aligning stakeholders around immediate actions to implement the framework adopted in October 2025.
“These discussions are about moving from policy to action,” said Mabuyakhulu, highlighting the need to establish an Independent Public-Private Partnership Office as a central coordination mechanism.
He added that finalising the implementation framework, including standard operating procedures, an implementation plan, and a steering committee is crucial to ensure legal and institutional alignment for efficient execution, while strengthening collaboration and accountability.
“The success of this framework will be measured not by its existence, but by the impact it delivers,” he said, noting that collective commitment from all stakeholders will determine its success.
Acting eThekwini City Manager Sipho Cele affirmed that the Municipality requires a clear, credible, and well-governed approach to partnering with the private sector.
He noted that the framework addresses long-standing challenges such as fragmented partnership arrangements, regulatory uncertainty, and inconsistent application of rules.
“The policy introduces a single, standardised, and transparent system for identifying, assessing, approving, and managing partnerships,” said Cele.
He added: “This ensures legal compliance, protects financial sustainability, and delivers value for money for the residents of eThekwini.”
Speaking on behalf of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry, CEO Palesa Phili welcomed the engagement, noting that business is ready to partner with the City to address key challenges, including infrastructure, water and sanitation, and energy.
“This partnership will unlock investment and accelerate service delivery in the region, and business looks forward to the speedy finalisation of the policy framework,” she said.
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