ANC Praises EThekwini Municipality Financial Recovery As Mayor Cyril Xaba Earns Recognition

The African National Congress (ANC) has commended the progress made in stabilising the finances of eThekwini Municipality under the leadership of Mayor Cyril Xaba, describing the metro as a leading example of financial recovery.

Speaking during the party's briefing, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said the municipality's financial position had improved significantly, allowing service delivery programmes to continue.

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He also confirmed that the ANC would announce mayoral candidates for the country's eight metropolitan municipalities and secondary cities within the next two weeks.

His remarks come as the National Treasury prepares to release R7.1 billion in previously withheld Local Government Equitable Share transfers from 31 July 2026. The grants had been withheld from several municipalities because of severe financial mismanagement.

EThekwini Municipality Highlighted For Financial Recovery

Mbalula said a number of municipalities had made notable improvements in governance and financial management, with eThekwini emerging as the party's flagship example.

"Number of key auditors arising, and in KwaZulu-Natal along Richmond, Masinga, and Umfuhuti, and clean audits for the first time in years, while some 18 municipalities across KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, and the North West have climbed out of the West audit categories. eThekwini is in steady financial recovery, collecting 93 cents in every rand it bills, with billing accuracy near total. These are not yet victories to be celebrated, but they are the proof that disciplined and competent and capable hands can bring municipality back to health," says Mbalula.

National Treasury said the remaining July 2026 Local Government Equitable Share transfers would begin flowing to qualifying municipalities from 31 July after financial governance concerns were addressed.

ANC Defends Thoko Didiza Against No-Confidence Motion

Turning to national political developments, Mbalula confirmed that the ANC's National Working Committee supports National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, who is facing a motion of no confidence.

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He said the party believes the Speaker acted appropriately in dealing with legal matters involving political parties.

"The National Working Committee also defends the Speaker of the National Assembly against the motion of no confidence. Faced with litigation between two parties, she may later preside over. The correct and constitutional theme was precisely what she did, not to take a side to punish a presiding officer for refusing to be partisan is to stand the principle on its head. And Parliament must come and work at the same time. It cannot be consumed by one matter, while our people are jobless at the cost of living [goes up]," Mbalula explains.

ANC Criticises Migration Protest Organisers Ahead Of Manifesto Launch

Mbalula also addressed migration-related demonstrations, saying the ANC believes the organisers are harming South Africa's international reputation.

"The organizers and funders must understand they are eroding our standing as a safe home for the tourist and the investor and isolating us from our own continent. And when South Africa stands alone, it will not succeed. We see these patterns for what they are: the urgent provocateur, the cheap mob politics of the palate chasing and the poison of ethno-nationalism that will break this country apart. The enforcement of our laws is the work of the state and of no one else." Mbalula added.

Looking ahead to the local government elections, Mbalula announced that the ANC will launch its election manifesto in Diepsloot's Riverpark on 15 August. He said the party would move away from hosting large stadium events and, before the manifesto launch, ANC leaders would visit all eight metropolitan municipalities to introduce their mayoral candidates.