EThekwini Municipality to Blacklist Sixteen External Contractors Over Severe Performance Failures

Sixteen firms face blacklisting in eThekwini for failing KPIs in refuse collection, housing, and infrastructure. Council demands accountability for service gaps.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 10, 2026, 9:19 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from IOL

Systemic Failure to Meet Essential Service Benchmarks

The eThekwini Municipality service provider performance monitoring report has exposed a troubling landscape of non,compliance among sixteen external companies. These contractors failed to meet essential Key Performance Indicators during the second quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, affecting a broad range of critical infrastructure and sanitation projects. According to the report presented to the council, the failures span across multiple directorates, highlighting a lack of operational discipline in projects ranging from landfill upgrades to road rehabilitation. The municipality has signaled that these companies will face formal blacklisting as a consequence of their inadequate output.

Sanitation Crisis in Residential Communities

Residential areas have borne the immediate brunt of these contractual failures, specifically regarding refuse collection and street sweeping. Communities in Chesterville, Nsimbini, Wiggins, and Bonela, as well as Ntuzuma Unit A and Westrich, have seen a significant decline in basic hygiene services. DA councillor Thabani Ndlovu noted that these are not merely administrative issues but direct failures that compromise public health and resident dignity. When basic waste management services are neglected, the environmental consequences for local communities are severe and immediate.

Infrastructure Projects Left in Disarray

The scope of underperformance extends deep into the city's technical infrastructure, including electricity and water supply projects. Major works such as the Southern Aqueduct upgrade, the refurbishment of Blackburn Reservoir, and various high,voltage transmission line projects have stalled or failed to meet standards. Additionally, essential road rehabilitation in the western region and sewer pipeline repairs in Glenwood have been cited for poor progress. These delays threaten the long,term stability of the city’s utility networks and increase the risk of secondary service disruptions for the wider population.