The eThekwini Municipality intends to approach Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) differently in its recent draft Development and Service Delivery Partnering Policy Framework (PPF).
The new partnering policy framework was well-received by municipal councillors during the October 30, 2025, council meeting.
This comprehensive approach to partnering includes establishing an Independent PPP office and a Partnering Steering Committee as part of the institutional arrangements, alongside providing clear definitions and partnership types.
The municipality stated that there would be procedural guidelines for project identification, procurement, contracting, dispute resolution, monitoring, and evaluation mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability.
The municipality, in collaboration with the Presidential eThekwini Working Group (PeWG), identified a need for a coherent and accessible policy environment to support strategic partnerships in sensitive delivery and development.
The framework is aimed at providing a transparent, accountable, and structured approach for fostering partnerships that align with the municipality’s development priorities, as articulated in the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and other strategic frameworks.
These partnerships are aimed at boosting the government’s performance, specifically local government, to operate smarter in realising its developmental mandate, while ensuring the provision of reliable services.
The framework will apply to all parties that intend to enter into a partnership arrangement with the municipality in its quest to realise its developmental and service provision mandate. It will also be used as a mechanism to support already existing partnerships between the private sector, government departments, and entities from other spheres of government.
Patrick Pillay, leader of the Democratic Liberal Congress (DLC), said that the formalisation of the PPP was consistent with clear guidelines and processes on how to collaborate with external stakeholders, such as businesses, NGOs, sporting bodies, the community, and other government bodies to deliver a faster and more sustainable public service.
Pillay said PPPs were created globally, with great results for service delivery, adding that the PPP was the answer for eThekwini to ensure rapid service delivery and not have any negative impact on their focus.
He added that PPPs allow the city to leverage private sector expertise, technology, and resources that would lead to faster project implementation.
“This policy seeks to also enhance collaboration and accountability transparently. Partnerships have proven to attract investments, thus reducing pressure on our city’s budget, stretching our limited resources further to achieve more with less,” he said.
Ntando Khuzwayo, ANC and Ward 28 councillor, said the framework will be a guiding tool and will bring along the expertise and innovation that the city needs.
Thabani Mthethwa, DA eThekwini caucus leader, described it as a strategic move to collaborate with all stakeholders to enhance people and business-centred service delivery.
“This is a victory for the DA, as we have for years been advocating for an all-of-society approach to service delivery,” he said.
