Checked 27 October 2026
Where the facts in this claim come from
Every fact on the claim page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
What does the evidence show?
Why it is Verified
The problems were broken rules on buying goods and services, on spending and on protecting the environment. The Auditor-General also found some results in its delivery report were not reliable. The Auditor-General raised no doubt that eThekwini can keep running and paying its bills. The Auditor-General's report sums up eThekwini in one line: "Institutional stability without accountability results in repeat audit findings". Here, institutional stability means the same leaders and senior staff stayed in their posts. Accountability means leaders and officials answering for what they do.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: PDF page 214 (printed page 210), eThekwini dashboard: 2024-25 column 'Unqualified with findings'; 'Material findings: compliance with legislation' Yes; 'Material findings: performance report' Yes; financial statements 'Material misstatements' None before and after audit. PDF page 13 (printed page 9): 'None of the metros achieved a clean audit' and only Cape Town's and eThekwini's statements (plus Johannesburg's consolidated statements) were unqualified. PDF page 215 (printed page 211), paragraph 3: unqualified with findings 'each year since 2015-16'.
Business Day. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph 4 ('The metros of Cape Town, eThekwini and Johannesburg achieved unqualified audit opinions with findings'). Paragraph 1 is the first line after the photo caption ('Auditor-general (AG) Tsakani Maluleke has raised the alarm...').
The Citizen. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph 11 ('The eThekwini Metro has received an unqualified opinion with findings for over a decade'); paragraph 13 (Maluleke: 'ongoing noncompliance with the law around procurement'). Paragraph 1 is the first line after the photo caption.
What did the council do, and when?
Who ran the council
Mayor: Cyril Xaba (ANC). Council run by ANC, IFP, National Freedom Party. From Jul 2024 to present.
EWN. Published 10 July 2024.
Where to look: Paragraph 1 ('has been elected as the new mayor of the eThekwini Metro Municipality'); paragraph 3 ('elected unopposed in a special council meeting')
The Mercury. Published 12 July 2024.
Where to look: Paragraph 4 ('ANC-designated Cyril Xaba'); paragraph 5 ('the IFP, ANC, DA and NFP, who already have a working arrangement at provincial level, extend this arrangement at a municipal level'); paragraph 6 (speaker ANC, deputy mayor NFP, MPAC EFF). Paragraph 1 is the article's first line after the photo caption.
Daily Maverick. Published 10 July 2024.
Where to look: Paragraph 13 ('In Exco, the ANC has four members, the DA three, the IFP one and the other is from the National Freedom Party')
Sunday Times. Published 28 August 2024.
Where to look: Paragraph 1 (the DA in KwaZulu-Natal 'will continue to occupy opposition benches in eThekwini'); paragraph 2 (DA-ANC coalition talks deadlocked); paragraph 6 (the DA 'was satisfied with its role of opposition in the metro')
Daily News. Published 9 September 2024.
Where to look: Counting 'Durban — Despite working well...' as paragraph 1: paragraph 1 (the DA turned down the ANC's request to work together in eThekwini); paragraph 6 (the IFP's Mdu Nkosi chairs the Trading Services committee); paragraph 8 (Macpherson: 'in the best interests of the residents to remain in opposition')
The Mercury. Published 31 March 2025.
Where to look: Paragraph 2 ('The IFP is part of a government of unity in the city and leads the Trading Services committee'; 'The party said it took exception to claims that, by virtue of being part of the governance structure, it is running the municipality'); paragraph 6 (IFP councillor Jonathan Annipen: 'This municipality is not run by the ANC and IFP alone' and 'just one Exco seat and a caucus of 17 members'). Paragraph 1 is the first paragraph after the standfirst and photo credit ('The IFP in the eThekwini Municipality is pushing back...').
Daily Maverick. Published 14 October 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph 54 (claim by the IFP: 'Hlengwa lashed out at Hoosen for being in opposition in eThekwini but also occupying three of the city's executive committee seats'). Paragraph 1 is the first body paragraph ('Pollsters are predicting a major shake-up...'), after the standfirst and photo credits; section headings are not counted.
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