KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) were recently named one of the best performing municipalities in KZN and third best in the country.
This came from the financial ratings agency, Ratings Afrika – an independent agency that analysed 100 of the biggest South African municipalities for the Municipal Financial Stability Index.
They measured each municipality’s operating performance, liabilities management, budget practices, and liquidity position giving each municipality a mark out of 100.
KDM scored 79 points which placed it top in KZN and third in the country after Swartland in the Western Cape and Senqu in the Eastern Cape.
KDM communications and knowledge management officer Sphe Ngobese said the municipality had maintained a consistent financial position.
“The municipality adheres to good budgetary practices, strict financial controls, and good revenue collection.
“In the 2014/2015 financial year, KwaDukuza scored 78 which made it the most financially stable municipality,” said Ngobese.
He said they have not always been in a good place financially, seen and faced many challenges.
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“From around 2004 onward, we were under serious financial constraints and performing at the lowest levels in the country. In 2010, we had achieved the second position in the country. In 2011 till 2013, we were at number one. We are among the very rare municipalities to have maintained such a consistent record.”
ANC chair of finance and EXCO member Jennifer Vallon said they have put strict measures in place to get their finances on track.
“We hold people accountable and have put systems in place to deal with debt which is a big problem. We have a debt collection strategy and amnesty programme and we make sure to hold people accountable if debt exceeds 90 to 120 days,” said Vallon.
DA councillor Tammy Colley said the municipality was lucky to have a highly efficient chief finance officer and his team.
“We are encouraged and pleased that we performed so well financially, but at the same time we are cautioned because we have not received a clean audit, we still have irregular expenditure and we still send money back to provincial treasury,” said Colley.
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