By: Nompendulo Ngubane
The KwaDukuza Local Municipality says critical factors such as the maintenance and upgrading of ageing infrastructure were central to the tabling and adoption of its final budget and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for the 2026/2027 financial year.
KwaDukuza Mayor Siduduzo Gumede made the remarks while presenting the municipality’s R3.5 billion budget at the KwaDukuza Town Hall on the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
Addressing councillors and community stakeholders, Gumede said the budget was designed to balance service delivery demands, infrastructure renewal and economic development, while ensuring financial sustainability for the municipality.
He said one of the municipality’s key priorities would be the revamping and maintenance of public infrastructure, including roads, water and sanitation networks, electricity infrastructure and public facilities. Gumede added that infrastructure investment remained critical to improving service delivery and supporting economic growth in the region.
During his address, the mayor also reflected on some of the achievements recorded by the current administration ahead of the end of its term in office in November. These include infrastructure upgrades, housing developments and initiatives aimed at strengthening local economic development and attracting investment to the municipality.
The budget and IDP outline the municipality’s strategic priorities and planned expenditure for the coming financial year, with officials expected to focus on addressing service delivery backlogs and improving the reliability of basic services across KwaDukuza.
