The final leg of the IDP/Budget Consultation Roadshow was held on Wednesday, 30 April 2025, where the Honourable Deputy Mayor of Alfred Duma Local Municipality, Cllr S. Simelane, presented the 2025/26 draft budget to community members of the Central Cluster at uMnambithi Town Hall. This cluster includes Wards 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 20, 22, 23, 25, and parts of Wards 24 and 26.
The purpose of the meeting was to engage the community and relevant stakeholders as part of the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) consultation for the upcoming financial year.
Present at the meeting were His Worship the Mayor, Cllr Z.J. Sibisi; the Honourable Speaker, Cllr B.P. Sithole; and Councillors Buys, T.P. Dlamini, Z. Madondo, T. Njoko, S. Zwane, Nxumalo, Mkhasibe, Sithole, Mngadi, N. Zwane, N. Thabede, S. Kubheka, K. Ntini, S. Mswane, Madondo, Xaba, Rajkumar, Ntshusha, Mlotshwa, Msimango, Mjiyakho, Zikalala, M. Sithole, Khumalo, Nzuza, Ngcobo, Mdluli, and Mhlongo, along with municipal officials.
In his address, the Honourable Deputy Mayor thanked the community for their active participation and highlighted the municipality’s financial limitations, noting that it is not feasible to service all 37 wards within a single financial year (1 July – 30 June). As a result, priority will be given to wards lacking basic services, in line with the municipality’s ward-based budgeting approach.
He presented the IDP priorities for the Central Cluster, which include the following projects:
- Resurfacing of Thomson Road, Ward 22 – R2 million
- Beautification of the CBD, Phase 1 – R6.8 million
- Construction of Alfred Duma Fitness Centre, Phase 4B – R13 million
- Construction of asphalt road, Accaciaville, Ward 20 – R6 million
- Construction of asphalt road, Ward 23 – R6 million
- Refurbishment of electrical substation infrastructure in Wards 9, 10, 12, 13, 20, 22, and 26 – R7 million
- Rehabilitation of Shepstone Road (1.3 km), Ward 22
- Rehabilitation of Newcastle Road (0.65 km), Ward 22 – R6 million
- Rehabilitation of Madras Road (0.5 km), Ward 10 – R3 million
- Rehabilitation of ELM Road (0.28 km), Ward 20 – R1.9 million
- Resurfacing of Tanjore Road, Ward 10 – R2.5 million
- Resurfacing of Chisty Place (2.1 km), Ward 13 – R6 million
- Maintenance of damaged infrastructure at Danskraal, Ward 22 – R8.2 million
In addition, the municipality remains committed to addressing ongoing service delivery issues, such as streetlight reconnections, pothole repairs, and gravel road maintenance. It is also awaiting approval from Eskom to extend electricity supply to areas currently under Eskom’s jurisdiction. To promote self-sufficiency, the municipality continues to offer ploughing services, fencing materials, and seeds to local communities through the Local Economic Development Department.
In his closing remarks, His Worship the Mayor, Cllr Z.J. Sibisi, urged residents to safeguard public infrastructure and community assets to ensure sustainable service delivery. He also announced plans to acquire a dedicated municipal fleet to enhance service delivery and affirmed that measures are being developed to mitigate the risk of future flooding in the town.
*Issued by:*
*Alfred Duma Local Municipality – Communications & IGR*
*For media interviews, contact:*
*His Worship the Mayor*
*Cllr Zama Sibisi*
*083 236 9546 / 082 709 0873*