ETHEKWINI NEWSFLASH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ETHEKWINI MUNICIPALITY’S EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DECISIONS
The Executive Committee (EXCO) held a meeting today, 28 April 2026.
Several resolutions were adopted to accelerate implementation and respond to current service delivery matters in the Municipality.
These reports will proceed to Full Council for further deliberation and approval.
EXCO BRIEFED ON THE MUNICIPALITY’S ONLINE PAYMENT SYSTEM
The Chief Financial Officer, Dr Sandile Mnguni, today presented an update to EXCO on the status of the Municipality’s new online invoice payment system, addressing concerns raised by some service providers regarding alleged payment delays.
The CFO confirmed that the system is operating efficiently and that all invoices meeting the required criteria are being processed.
He noted that finance teams worked through the weekend to ensure payments were processed without disruption.
To date, over 5 000 invoices have been successfully processed through the new system, with a further 2 982 invoices already approved for payment.
He said the municipality is committed to processing all invoices due in April by not later than the 30th of April.
The introduction of the online invoice system forms part of the Municipality’s broader efforts to enhance efficiency, transparency, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations governing financial management.
EXCO has expressed its full support for the initiative, highlighting the system’s role in advancing transparency and ensuring compliance with applicable financial regulations.
Meanwhile, the Mayor has condemned the vandalism affecting water infrastructure across the City and instructed management to investigate the incidents and identify those responsible for these criminal acts.
INTRODUCTION OF ETHEKWINI DATA INTELLIGENT ASSISTANT FOR WATER AND SANITATION INFRASTRUTURE
The eThekwini Water and Sanitation Directorate (EWS) has taken a significant step towards the introduction of technology to manage water and sanitation infrastructure.
As part of digital transformation, the Directorate made the introduction of the eThekwini Data Intelligent Assistant (EDINA), an innovative, in-house developed platform designed to enhance decision-making and service delivery.
EWS management today presented EDINA to EXCO, showcasing how the platform provides unified insights to support smarter, more responsive governance.
Developed by EWS technical staff with the assistance of Microsoft, EDINA is an AI-powered executive assistant that gives municipal leaders instant access to integrated, real-time information.
The platform connects previously siloed systems and presents data through a simple, conversational interface, making it easier for decision-makers to access critical insights when they need them.
By unifying data across multiple directorates, EDINA enhances situational awareness, accelerates decision-making, and supports proactive, data-driven governance.
The system is expected to improve operational efficiency and strengthen the Municipality’s ability to respond to service delivery challenges effectively.
Currently, the Sanitation Directorate is implementing technology-driven approaches that focus on both conventional and non-conventional sanitation systems, including Non-Sewered Sanitation (NSS) and Water Efficient Sanitation Solutions (WESS).
These solutions provide resilient, modular, and low-water-use alternatives designed to meet the needs of diverse communities, particularly in areas where conventional sewer infrastructure is limited or not feasible.
This includes, exploring advanced technologies such as sewer robotic cleaning systems and the use of recycled effluent for high-pressure jetting.
These innovations are expected to improve maintenance efficiency, reduce operational costs, and promote sustainable water use.
In addition, enhanced sewer monitoring systems for pipelines and manholes will provide real-time insights into effluent levels, types of blockages, and early warning indicators.
This technology will also assist in identifying the composition of blockages and wastewater conditions, enabling faster and more targeted responses to infrastructure challenges.
APPROVAL OF THE CITY’S RECYCLING AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY FRAMEWORK
The Executive Committee has approved the implementation of the eThekwini Recycling and Circular Economy Framework (ERCEF), a strategic initiative led by the City’s Waste Management Directorate to enhance recycling, waste reduction, and resource recovery across the municipality.
The framework aligns with the National Waste Management Policy and responds to growing interest from private sector recycling service providers seeking partnerships in material recovery, circular economy projects, and access to municipal waste streams.
ERCEF introduces a coordinated and structured approach to managing these partnerships, with the aim of promoting waste minimisation and advancing circular economy outcomes within eThekwini.
As part of its implementation, the Waste Management Directorate will establish an affiliate forum comprising organisations interested in waste management and environmental sustainability within the municipal area.
The forum will serve as a collaborative platform for stakeholder participation in municipal waste management programmes and initiatives.
Currently, approximately 15% of municipal waste is recycled, with the majority still being disposed of at landfill sites. Through ERCEF, the Municipality aims to significantly increase recycling rates, reduce reliance on landfills, and unlock economic opportunities within the waste sector.
ENDS
Issued by eThekwini Municipality’s Marketing and Communications Directorate
