Adopt-a-Municipality Pilot Programme
Infrastructure in South Africa is at a critical juncture. It presents a significant opportunity to spur equitable economic growth and prosperity but also comes with extensive existing challenges. In response to the concerning state of municipal service delivery challenges, as highlighted in the Auditor General’s report of 2023, Infrastructure South Africa, through the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure has initiated the Adopt-a-Municipality Programme. The initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to strengthening infrastructure and improving essential services in local municipalities.
On 21 November 2024, the programme was endorsed by the Presidential Infrastructure Coordination Commission (PICC) Council, the apex governance structure provided for in the Infrastructure Development Act (No. 23 of 2014) and chaired by H.E President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The first phase of this pilot initiative is designed to provide targeted support to four (4) local municipalities, namely:
- Metsimaholo Local Municipality – Free State Province
- uMngeni Local Municipality – Kwa-Zulu Natal Province
- Govan Mbeki Local Municipality – Mpumalanga Province
- Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality – Northwest Province
The priority infrastructure sectors are the following:
- Water and Sanitation
- Electricity and energy
- Waste Management
Under the direction of Public Works & Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson, ISA has been directed to execute the programme and will support the development of a strategy and implementation plan to accelerate service delivery in municipalities through the programme.
Projects Updates
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and Ramotshere Moiloa Local Municipality (RMLM) is concluded under the Adopt-A-Municipality Pilot Programme, through which the municipality has been selected as one of the pilot participants for the implementation of priority infrastructure projects. The purpose of the MoU is to provide technical assistance to the municipality to support project preparation, planning, packaging, and implementation readiness, including assistance to source and mobilise funding, as well as to monitor the implementation of the identified infrastructure programme, with all such support being facilitated through Infrastructure South Africa (ISA). The partnership aims to enhance municipal infrastructure for sustainable service delivery by strengthening institutional readiness, accelerating the implementation of priority infrastructure, and mobilising alternative funding and public–private partnership models. The collaboration focuses on key sectors including Water and Sanitation, Electricity and Energy, and Waste Management. The Adopt-A-Municipality initiative is designed to address critical service delivery challenges, including incomplete projects and infrastructure issues, with the goal of achieving significant improvements within a two-year timeframe.
