According to executive mayor, Zanele Hlatshwayo, there is much about which to be positive. The city’s economy is growing and good progress is being made regarding the extension of basic services and houses to previously disadvantaged communities. Currently, there is no area in the municipality that is without access to water. For Hlatshwayo though, this is only the beginning of the transformation process.

“As South Africans, we have a challenge of creating a new legacy of which we can be proud. A large part of this requires that spatial divisions of the past are broken down so that people have access to the city and the opportunities it presents.”

In immediate terms, this means constructing roads to connect township areas to the more established town centre. The long-term goal, however, is to coordinate Msunduzi and the surrounding district municipalities into a metro.

“Neighbouring towns would be better able to harness development opportunities if local government in the area were decentralised. We have been debating the issue with the district municipalities and should be in the position to submit an official motivation by the end of this term.”

In the meantime, Hlatshwayo is concentrating on building a healthy organisation, which is able to capitalise on opportunities for growth and expansion. A key part of this is acquiring and retaining skilled staff.

“We are losing good people to the private sector, especially engineers. There is a huge local demand for engineering skills with 2010 around the corner. Still others are leaving for foreign shores where they are paid in dollars and pounds. It is hard to compete with that and I think it is a big challenge for local government on the whole.”

She adds that this is why Msunduzi views it as critical to pay competitive salaries to its employees.

“Many people complain about the high salaries paid to local government officials, but if you want good results you have to pay people well. On the other hand, effective leadership is absolutely critical to ensure efficiency and integrity permeates all our activities.


“To me it is really about living up to our promises. That is how we will gain the trust of the community. Open and honest communication plays a big role. We need to keep people up to date with the progress of delivery.”

The city hosts two izimbizos each year to facilitate communication with the community on issues such as the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and the budget. The izimbizos are well attended and the number of attendees
grows every year.

“We ask for input and then report back as to what has been put in place. Each year, the questions and suggestions made by the communities show a growing appreciation for governmental processes.”

The other side of the coin is the city’s relationship with provincial and national government. While Hlatshwayo is positive about the situation, she says that every effort is being made to improve communication.

“Ultimately we want to be able to move faster. We are working hard to meet the targets enshrined in our IDP, but to do so we need to streamline funding application processes and clarify responsibilities. The inter-governmental relations policy on its own is not enough and we need to create forums for discussion to bridge the remaining gaps.”

She points to the transport forum, an initiative of the Department of Transport, as a good example of local and provincial government working together. The collaborative efforts have allowed for the development of effective master plans and growth opportunities.

“Roads are a challenge because of the cost, especially to rural areas, but we are making progress. At present, we are focusing our attention more on housing and we are moving steadily towards our target.”

The challenge the city faces is that housing needs to address social issues, like the effects of HIV/Aids on families and illegal immigrants.

“The influx of illegal immigrants from Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe is proving a major challenge in abolishing slum areas. As soon as we remove people, we are finding that others take their place. It is a vicious cycle, but we have to find a way of accommodating these people or we will never get rid of the slums. It is certainly not going to be resolved overnight.”

She adds that the recently approved Neighbourhood Development Grant provides an additional source of funding for township development, specifically the areas of Imbali and Athlone. The plan is to develop the infrastructure in such a way as to improve the quality of life through the construction of parks, recreational areas and business nodes.

“We are also looking at ways to develop Vulindlela, which is the tribal area. We have approved the rural housing policy and have been in discussion with the amakosi. We have their full support and have fostered a mutual respect through our dealings with them.”

Tourism has been identified as a crucial means to develop the economies of the township and rural areas. Proposals to capitalise on the area’s rich history are under consideration and form part of the city’s economic development strategic plan. The plan will be finalised once it has been brought into line with the provincial growth strategy.

“From an economic perspective it is good that the capital has moved from Ulundi to Msunduzi. It has sparked a rejuvenation of the inner city as government departments buy and renovate old buildings to be used as office space.”

The city has made a commitment to spending 20% of its budget to maintain existing infrastructure and ensure that Msunduzi remains an attractive investment option for business.

“In the past, we were focusing solely on new development, but we have realised that we need to maintain what has been put in place. This has been made much easier with the new budget guidelines.”

“The suggestion to make provision for cooperatives in the procurement policy came from the community during one of the izimbizos. It is very exciting, because it is a sign that the community and local government are moving forward together in a shared understanding. Ultimately, it means that the IDP is becoming more reflective of the people and that is extremely encouraging.”

A key project that has been identified by provincial government is the development of a corridor between Msunduzi Pietermaritzburg and Durban, similar to the one connecting Pretoria and Johannesburg. The city is in the process of signing an agreement with the Durban metro to begin work on the project.

•  Grow the economy, in line with the provincial developmental growth strategy and the     Dube Trade Port.  
•  Sustainable transformation of the townships to improve quality of life for residents
•  A commitment to safety
•  Develop tourism
•  Nurture the city into a global city with strong international relations