Latest news with #MunicipalInnovationRecognitionAwards
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
eThekwini Municipality to harness technology to improve service delivery
eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba said the City will be using technology to improve service delivery. Image: eThekwini Municipality / Facebook The eThekwini Municipality will deploy drones in an effort to identify and quickly address service delivery issues in the City. eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba stated that the City no longer wants to wait for residents to complain about the service delivery challenges they are experiencing in their areas. Xaba emphasised that matters like water leaks and potholes must be identified urgently through the use of technology and addressed quickly, rather than being left unresolved for weeks or months. Xaba made these remarks while speaking at the Municipal Innovation Awards in Durban yesterday afternoon. The second Municipal Innovation Recognition Awards (MIRA) is an initiative of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA). It follows the implementation of the Municipal Innovation Maturity Index in 2021, a tool that assesses the capacity of municipalities to innovate in a bid to improve service delivery. The awards are also a flagship initiative of the Viability and Validation of Innovations for Service Delivery Programme, which supports municipalities in piloting specific technologies or innovations, focusing on aspects like access, availability, acceptability, and adaptability of these solutions in basic service delivery. Award categories included Special Recognition Awards, Top Innovative Municipality, and the Trailblazing Innovations Award for Innovations for Service Delivery. Several municipalities across the country took part in yesterday's ceremony. Among those present were eThekwini, the City of Cape Town and representatives from municipalities in Gauteng, the Eastern Cape and Limpopo. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Xaba stated that the use of technology is central to how municipalities must be run. 'Innovation within local government is not merely a technical endeavour, but it is a governance imperative that bridges the gap between policy and the lived realities of communities. Research consistently affirms that municipalities that embed a culture of learning are more resilient and better positioned to respond to complex developmental challenges.' He said the municipality was committed to institutionalising innovation as a strategic tool for service delivery. 'I am happy that as a city, we have taken the decision to deploy technology, including utilising drones to proactively identify and resolve service delivery challenges. As we strive to improve performance, this will go a long way in ensuring that we don't wait for communities to report faulty streetlights, burst pipes, and overgrown verges.' SALGA president Bheke Sofile applauded the programme, stating that it is pleasing to see the UKZN, SALGA, and the government working together to address challenges. He expressed concern about the lack of innovation in municipalities and highlighted the importance of collaboration with academics to improve the lives of people in the country. He said innovation was necessary, especially in municipalities with low resources. 'Let us co-create solutions. MIRA represents a sector with the potential and talent to transform itself from within. Let us share what works, document what does not, collaborate and share solutions.'
TimesLIVE
25-06-2025
- Science
- TimesLIVE
Municipalities to be lauded for trailblazing projects
While many municipalities are in crisis there are those punching above their weight when it comes to innovation. That's according to chief director of Innovation for Inclusive Development in the department of science, technology and innovation, Tshepang Mosiea, who said this ahead of the 2025 Municipal Innovation Recognition Awards (Mira). The awards, to be held on June 30, are part of the Viability and Validation of Innovations for Service Delivery Programme, spearheaded by the department of science, technology and innovation in collaboration with the South African Local Government Association (Salga) and the University of KZN. 'Insomuch as we persevere as a fairly young democracy to ensure all South Africans are considered equal, we would be foolish to negate the historical framework within which we are operating,' said Mosiea on Tuesday. 'There are far-flung rural areas that are completely cut off from the most basic necessities like health care and education, and it is for this purpose innovation plays such an important role in expediting growth.' 'The awards seek to unearth innovation and technology municipalities are leveraging to ensure efficient service delivery — something the minister of science, technology and innovation Professor Blade Nzimande has prioritised, and which is in line with his mantra of placing science, technology and innovation at the centre of society and government.' Associate professor at UKZN's school of built environment and development studies, Sithembiso Myeni, told TimesLIVE 51 projects were submitted from 20 municipalities. 'Among the objectives of Mira is to recognise and appreciate current innovation lighthouse initiatives implemented by municipalities to improve the delivery of basic services. This objective is attainable through category three of the Mira, which is directed towards recognition of trailblazing projects. ' The Western Cape is the province represented by the highest number of municipalities with trailblazing projects, adding up to 21 in total.' He said some of the innovations equipped employees and citizens with digital skills which presents 'a good initiative, especially considering that we are moving towards, if not already in, an era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)". He said municipalities were investing in recycling infrastructure and aware of the need to strengthen water provision systems. 'The nature of entrance and the number of submissions received reflects the long desire from the municipalities to showcase their innovative initiatives. This has proved the importance and uniqueness of the Mira in terms of encouraging the uptake of innovation in municipalities and encouraging municipal leadership and officials to adopt innovation and technology in the delivery of basic services.' At the inaugural awards event in 2023, Myeni was recognised as the 'champion' of the Municipal Innovation Maturity Index (Mimi), a tool used to assess and benchmark municipal innovation. That year, uMhlathuze local municipality was recognised for using drone technology to tackle water loss and improve water supply planning. The initiative responded to growing water demand driven by population growth, with illegal and unbilled connections identified as major contributors to losses.
