eThekwini ward committees: Why 65 are struggling to function

The eThekwini Municipality's ward committee quarterly assessment outcome between October and December 2025 revealed that 65 were not functional.

The assessment report of the ward committees was presented at a council meeting by the Speaker in the municipality, Councillor Thabani Nyawose. 

On February 3, 2026, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) informed councillors of the outcome for quarter 2.

The municipality currently has 111 wards; however, this will expand to 112 wards for the 2026 local government elections following a Municipal Demarcation Board (MDB) process.

Nyawose said the assessment outcome indicated that, based on the functionality assessment tool, 46 committees were deemed functional. The remainder, 65, were considered non-functional.

The common reasons for such an outcome are recorded as follows:

• Ward 4: Two ward committee (WC) meetings held. There was no community except for stakeholder forums and war room meetings, and the ward report was not signed by the councillor (Cllr).
• Ward 5: Two WC meetings and a ward report by the councillor have not been signed.
• Ward 6: Two WC meetings, no community meetings, and the ward report is incomplete and not signed by Cllr.
• Ward 7, 12, 13, 14, 19: No community meetings, and the ward report has not been signed and stamped by the councillor.
• Ward 9: Attendance registers for community meeting not signed by attendees, and ward report not signed and stamped by the councillor.

• Ward 10, 91: No community meetings, and the ward report was not signed and stamped by the councillor.
• Ward 11: Ward report by councillor not presented.
• Ward 18: Two WC meetings, no community meetings, and the ward report was not signed or stamped by the councillor.
• Ward 23, 27, 32, 36, 38, 58, 59, 62, 63, 64, 71, 77, 97, 102, 105: Non-submission of evidence.

• Ward 28, 29, 31, 34, 43, 45, 68, 69, 72, 73, 75, 80, 81, 82, 85, 94, 99, 101, 109: No community meetings and no ward report by the councillor.
• Ward 30: Minutes and attendance register of community meetings not signed or stamped.
• Ward 33: Attendance register and minutes of community meeting not stamped, and no ward report by the councillor.

• Ward 37, 65, 66, 70, 100, 104, 107: No ward report by the councillor.
• Ward 39: No ward committee.
• Ward 49: No community meetings.
• Ward 61: Ward report not complete, last page not presented.
• Ward 67: No WC meetings, attendance register of community meeting not signed and stamped, no sectoral reports, and no ward report by the councillor.
• Ward 89: Attendance register of community meeting not signed and stamped, and no ward report by the councillor.

• Ward 90: Community meeting not considered, no sectoral reports, and no ward report by the councillor.
• Ward 111: No WC meetings, attendance register of community meeting not signed and stamped, no sectoral reports, and no ward report by the councillor.

“The above-mentioned assessment outcome will be communicated to all ward councillors for awareness relative to indicators that were not achieved with a view to addressing such issues to improve at the next upcoming assessment for the current quarter, quarter between January and March 2026,” Nyawose said.

According to the municipality, ward committees are established by law to foster participatory governance. They enable the local community to actively engage with the municipality's affairs by providing input and feedback on its programmes, plans, budget, and performance.

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za