Ilembe municipality has dug itself out of its financial mess and there is finally light at the end of the tunnel.
Hard work paid off for councillors and officials when the municipality, that was almost bankrupt a year ago, received an award from the department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) naming them the best performing municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.
This accomplishment comes after Ilembe municipality was almost crippled by debt, running out of reserves and struggling to keep up with operational costs – problems inherited from the previous council.
Tasked with major challenges, the new council elected in 2016 worked with officials to rescue the organisation by cutting back on expenses and driving a higher collection rate.
The municipality’s revenue collection improved from last year’s under 50 percent to over 75 percent for the 2018/2019 financial year.
Also read: Ilembe municipal manager aims high
While the municipality still faces serious challenges with water loss and revenue collection, mayor Sduduzo Gumede is confident they are on the right track, with service delivery being their main priority.
“As councillors we need to first and foremost understand that we are on borrowed time. Our communities give us limited time for us to be their representatives in council and to serve as a bridge between them and the council. This, therefore, means we are servants of our communities and not their masters.”
Opposition DA councillor Malcolm Hubner said the Ilembe council had come together to improve every aspect of the municipality.
“Expensive cars, sponsorships, and other luxuries were cut out and emphasis was placed only on service delivery and improving the cash flow.
“Council inherited a municipality that was crippled by debt and bad decisions made in the past, in terms of spending millions on water tankers and writing off millions of rands of debt.
“The portfolios within the municipality are strong and everyone has a common understanding. There has been drastic improvements and hard work to achieve them.”
In light of the achievement, last week the noble leader’s foundation partnered with Ilembe municipality to host a councilors appreciation awards at eBandla Hotel. The event was to appreciate the efforts of councillors and inspire leadership.
Councillors from the four municipalities that fall within Ilembe were encouraged to carry out their roles with excellence and efficiency.
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