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
Councils must follow set rules when they spend public money. In 2024-25, eThekwini broke them on R4.48 billion of spending. That was 57% of all irregular spending by KwaZulu-Natal councils that year. The biggest parts were R1.9 billion on local content rules and R1.3 billion on deviations, the Auditor-General told Parliament. Local content rules say some goods must be made in South Africa. A deviation is a purchase made without the normal bidding steps.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: PDF page 2, row 77 'eThekwini Metro' under 'Financial audits (audit opinion before consolidation of controlled entities, where applicable)', last three columns: unauthorised '-', irregular 4 482,0m, fruitless and wasteful 67,4m
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: Printed page 210 (PDF page 214), eThekwini dashboard: 'Irregular expenditure over administration R10,00bn (4 years)'; 'Fruitless and wasteful expenditure over administration R0,08bn (4 years)'. Printed page 187 (PDF page 191): biggest metro contributors since 2021-22 include 'eThekwini (R10,00 billion)'. Printed page 274 (PDF page 278), KwaZulu-Natal section: irregular expenditure at municipalities 'increased from the R3,41 billion in 2020-21 to R7,80 billion in 2024-25. eThekwini Metro contributed to R4,48 billion (57%) of this amount.'
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 28 April 2026.
Where to look: Slide 60 (PDF page 60), 'Reflection on irregular and fruitless and wasteful expenditure': '2024-25: R4 481 997 000' irregular and 'R67 353 000' fruitless and wasteful; main contributors 'Section 36 deviations – R1,3billion, Splitting of orders – R325m, Local content – R1,9b, Plumbers contracts R799m'; written off R2 490 863 000 (43%), not dealt with R3 246 276 000 (57%)
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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