Ermelo, Mpumalanga – 31 July 2026.
The Gert Sibande District Municipality (GSDM) successfully hosted its 2026 State of the District Address (SODA) on Thursday, 30 July 2026 at the GSDM Office Complex, Ermelo where the Executive Mayor, Cllr Walter Mngomezulu, delivered a comprehensive account of the municipality’s performance, achievements, challenges and future developmental vision.
The sitting was presided over by the Speaker of Council, Cllr Busisiwe Sekhonde who led the proceedings with dignity and professionalism, bringing together councillors of different political belonging and various stakeholders in one of the municipalities most significant democratic accountability platforms, the SODA.
Delivered during the final months of the current Council term ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections (LGE), this year’s SODA served as both the reflection of the journey travelled over the past five years and the reaffirmation of the municipality’s unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for all who call Gert Sibande District home. Reflecting on the administration’s term of office, the Executive Mayor highlighted significant progress in strengthening intergovernmental relations, supporting the seven local municipalities, expanding strategic infrastructure investment, promoting regional planning, and restoring confidence in local government institutions. It was noted that all municipalities in the district have improved institutional stability with no municipality currently classified as dysfunctional following assessments by the Department of Cooperative Governance (DCoG).
Among the key highlights presented during the address were the substantial investments made over the past five years in bulk water infrastructure across several local municipalities, improvements to water treatment works, the refurbishment of critical water and sanitation infrastructure, expanded electricity distribution networks, road maintenance programmes, municipal support initiatives and continued investment in public infrastructure aimed at improving service delivery and restoring dignity to communities. These include the upgrading of the Methula, Empuluzi, Fortuna Water Treatment Works, Greater Breyten Cluster 2, Davel and Standerton Water Treatment Works, significantly improving access to reliable and safe drinking water for thousands of households across the district. The municipalities also strengthened electricity distribution in Govan Mbeki through the construction of the new 40MVA substation, maintained more than 1600km of gravel road and supported municipalities with specialised plant and equipment for road rehabilitation programmes. The institution is currently busy with the upgrade of the Siyathemba Sports Facility in Siyathemba (Dipaleseng) and the Gabosch dam construction in Amsterdam (Mkhondo).
Beyond infrastructure delivery the Executive Mayor reaffirmed the municipality’s commitment to ethical governance, financial discipline and accountability, highlighting the municipality’s record of maintaining unqualified audit outcomes while recording zero unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure over the past five years, strengthened intergovernmental relations with all seven local municipalities towards institutional stability, expanded graduate development programmes, created an average of 1 767 Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) work opportunities, and continued investing in youth development, technical skills and municipal capacity building initiatives. He stressed that clean governance remains fundamental to earning and maintaining public confidence in local government.
While celebrating achievements, the Executive Mayor acknowledged that significant challenges remain such as youth unemployment, infrastructure maintenance or renewal, municipal financial pressures, and the continual need to expand access to quality basic services. He called on all sectors of society to work together in building resilient institutions capable of responding to future economic, environmental and developmental challenges.
Addressing this being the final SODA before the conclusion of the current Council term, Executive Mayor expressed his appreciation to all GSDM councillors and officials, local municipalities, government departments, traditional and Khoisan leadership, organised business and labour, and the people of Gert Sibande District for their partnership and dedication throughout the past five years.
The municipality remains committed to strengthen service delivery, coordinate and support local municipalities, promote ethical leadership, advancing sustainable economic development, and working collaboratively with all stakeholders to improve the quality of life of every resident. The full SODA 2026 Speech is available at www.gsibande.gov.za ~ENDS ~
