The Water Partnership Office assisted eThekwini Municipality to secure R379 million over six years to reduce water losses and is supporting the municipality with implementation. The intervention forms part of government's expanded support to distressed municipalities to improve water service delivery and address infrastructure and capacity challenges.

eThekwini secures R379 million to reduce water losses

Capacitate municipalities to improve service delivery

An Inter-Ministerial Committee expanded the Municipal Performance Turnaround Strategy from 10 to 38 municipalities, covering financial viability, governance, service delivery and audit outcomes.

Municipal Performance Turnaround Strategy expanded to 38 municipalities

National School of Governance (NSG) and KwaZulu-Natal Legislature partner to strengthen governance through training.
This strategic collaboration, which was formally established in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, represents a shared dedication to the enhancement of governance by means of education, training, and the professional development of both elected public representatives and legislative employees.
&nbsp;The NSG will offer targeted training that is designed to enhance ethical leadership and governance, promote the development of effective policies to improve service delivery, and involve citizens in the decision-making process.

The National School of Government (NSG) has partnered with the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature to roll out targeted capacity-building training for its members and employees to enhance governance and service

The minister of Public Works and Infrastructure and Infrastructure South Africa (ISA) has signed MoUs with several local municipalities to improve infrastructure delivery at the local government level. The initiative, adopted by the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Council in November, aims to address cost overruns, poor workmanship, and inadequate planning in municipal infrastructure projects. The initiative aims to ensure proper budgeting, project preparation, cost overruns, and poor workmanship, ultimately bringing an end to the failing municipal infrastructure.

Adopt-a-Municipality initiative to improve delivery of infrastructure projects

The South African government and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank signed a USD 500 million sovereign-backed loan to support the Metro Trading Services Programme, which aims to improve the financial sustainability, accountability and operational performance of municipal water and sanitation, electricity and solid-waste services across the eight metropolitan municipalities.

South Africa secures USD 500 million to improve basic services in metros

Shift to a utility model for water and electricity services to ensure financial and operational sustainability

The Border Management Authority launched and began piloting the Port Health Management System (PHMS) at Durban Harbour. The digital platform replaces the largely email-based process for port health services and enables users to submit requests, upload documents, schedule and record inspections, manage invoicing and payments, and track requests electronically. The Durban pilot will inform the system's subsequent rollout to other applicable ports of entry.

Border Management Authority launches digital Port Health Management System at Durban Harbour

Accelerate digital transformation across the state

The National Assembly passed the Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority Bill, which provides for the establishment of an Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority to replace the existing Municipal Demarcation Board. The Bill establishes a new legislative framework for municipal boundary determination and ward delimitation, including public participation and an appeals mechanism.

National Assembly passes Independent Municipal Demarcation Authority Bill

Review institutional and legislative frameworks of local government

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works and Infrastructure achieved its first clean audit from the Auditor-General of South Africa, which the department attributed to stronger accountability, tighter financial controls and reformed internal measures. The reforms were aimed at improving departmental functionality and strengthening institutional performance and trust.

KZN Public Works and Infrastructure achieves first clean audit

Build an ethical, capable, and professional public service

The government's 5-point migration management plan reported 205 immigration-violation incidents, 354 arrests and 68,327 repatriations between 14 June&ndash;24 July 2026, plus Electronic Travel Authorisation rollout at OR Tambo, Lanseria, King Shaka and Cape Town airports.

Government strengthens border security through Five-Point Plan on Migration Management

Establish effective border security

Cabinet approved the introduction of the Conspiracy, Instigation and Incitement to Commit Offence Bill, 2026 to Parliament. The Bill repeals the outdated Riotous Assemblies Act, 1956, replaces unconstitutional provisions and reforms the legal framework for penalising conspiracy, instigation and incitement to commit criminal offences, bringing it into alignment with the constitutional order.

Cabinet approves Conspiracy, Instigation and Incitement to Commit Offence Bill, 2026

Build a reformed, integrated, and modernised Criminal Justice System

Cabinet approved the continuation of the SOE reform programme after assessing 72 Schedule entities during 2025/26, while government is advancing the National State Enterprise Bill to establish a more centralised approach to SOE governance and coordination.

Government advances reforms to strengthen state-owned enterprises

Establish a centralised ownership model for State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and finalise the National State Enterprises Bill

The South African Government pursued its case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) under the Genocide Convention, filing its Memorial, the core written submission of evidence and legal argument.&nbsp;

South Africa notes Israel’s response filing to the ICJ in the Gaza genocide case

Advance South African foreign policy for a better world

<div class="ewa-rteLine">President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised the deployment of 2,200 members of the South African National Defence Force to work with the South African Police Service under Operation Prosper. The deployment, which runs from March 2026 to March 2027, targets illegal mining and gangsterism in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, North West, and Western Cape.</div>
<div class="ewa-rteLine">&nbsp;</div>

Authorisation of SANDF Deployment to Combat Organised Crime

Combat priority offences (economic, organised crime and corruption)

National Treasury launched the R54 billion Metro Trading Services Reform, a performance-based conditional grant for South Africa's eight metropolitan municipalities. The grant is designed to improve the financing and delivery of water, sanitation, electricity and waste infrastructure by linking funding to municipal performance, strengthening financial management, and reforming the use of conditional grants to support more effective infrastructure investment.

Launch of the R54 billion Metro Trading Services Reform performance-based grant

Review the local government fiscal framework, including the use of conditional grants

The Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities allocated R2.2 billion for the 2026/27 financial year to support the implementation of its priorities. This includes R1.8 billion for the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) to expand programmes focused on youth entrepreneurship, employment pathways, skills development, and paid service opportunities; R111 million for the Commission for Gender Equality; and R46.5 million for the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. The department indicated that these funds would be used for policy implementation, legislation, advocacy, mainstreaming, monitoring and evaluation, research, coordination, and partnerships.

Increased Funding for Youth Development, Gender Equality, and GBVF Programmes

Ensure mainstreaming of gender and empowerment of youth and persons with disabilities

The government of South Africa has allocated R1.2 billion in a Disaster Recovery Grant to municipalities affected by recent disasters, following severe snowfall and flooding in KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, and Eastern Cape.

Disaster Recovery Grant announced to aid municipalities affected by recent natural disasters.

Strengthen disaster management capabilities at local government to respond effectively to any event

President Ramaphosa launched phase two of Operation Vulindlela, focusing on spatial inequality, local government performance enhancement, and digital transformation. The Cabinet approved the Roadmap for Digital Transformation of Government, aiming to modernize government services through investment in digital public infrastructure.

Operation Vulindlela phase II to lead the Digital Transformation Roadmap

Launch the second phase of Operation Vulindlela which will focus on reforming the local government system and improving the delivery of basic services, and harnessing digital public infrastructure as a driver of growth and inclusion

Improve governance and performance of public entities

Ensure a secured cyberspace

Enhance peace and security in Africa

Enhance efforts to accelerate social cohesion and nation-building

Improve efficiency, ease of doing business and productivity of the public sector

Implement the Personnel Compensation Review in order to manage the Wage Bill within the entire Public Sector

The Trade, Industry, and Competition Ministry is addressing the leadership vacancies and enhancing corporate governance to ensure the department can effectively execute its mandates related to industrialization, localization, and export-led growth.

The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) has began the process of filling the vacancies at the institute

Implement systems to ensure that capable and qualified people are appointed to senior positions in municipalities

Parliamentary portfolio committees in South Africa have been allocated R3 million to improve planning and resourcing. Speaking at the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, said the funding will ensure committees are adequately resourced and have annual insights for better planning. This will further aid Parliament in increasing research and language capacity to address concerns raised by Members of Parliament last year. Additional researchers and practitioners will be appointed to ensure adequate capacity in all sittings of the National Assembly and Council of Provinces.

R3 million has been allocated to each Parliamentary portfolio committee to improve the committees' planning and resourcing to enhance oversight.

Ensure that capable and qualified people are appointed to senior positions in municipalities and ensure independent regulation and oversight of the appointment process

Citizens Watch

Promise

Promise History

eThekwini secures R379 million to reduce water losses

Municipal Performance Turnaround Strategy expanded to 38 municipalities

The National School of Government (NSG) has partnered with the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature to roll out targeted capacity-building training for its members and employees to enhance governance and service

Adopt-a-Municipality initiative to improve delivery of infrastructure projects