02/11/2026
Sundays River Valley Municipality Reflects on Progress and Challenges as Council Term Draws to a Close
Sundays River Valley Municipality held its End-of-Term Ordinary Council Meeting on Friday, 30 October 2026, reflecting on the progress and achievements recorded during the 2021–2026 Council term.
Delivering his remarks, Mayor Cllr Solethu Lucas highlighted progress made in service delivery, institutional performance, governance and local economic development despite the challenges experienced by the Municipality.
Among the achievements highlighted was the creation of at least 653 employment opportunities between the 2022/23 and 2025/26 financial years, support provided to small businesses, and infrastructure interventions involving roads, water, sanitation and community facilities.
The Municipality also celebrated recognition received at district, provincial and national levels for its environmental management initiatives and library services, including the prestigious 2025 LIASA Public/Community Library of the Year Award received by Kirkwood Public Library.
Another notable achievement was the improvement in reported annual organisational performance, which increased from 42% in 2023/24 to 78% in 2025/26.
Mayor Lucas applauded the progress made in addressing historical Unauthorised, Irregular, Fruitless and Wasteful Expenditure (UIFWE). For several years, the Municipality had carried substantial balances of historical expenditure that had not been adequately investigated or finalised.
“There is another story to tell about Sundays River Valley, and we must never be ashamed to tell it.”
“The history of an institution must never be judged only by the difficulties it has experienced; it must also be judged by how it responds to those difficulties,” he added.
While acknowledging that challenges remain, particularly in financial sustainability and infrastructure maintenance, Cllr Lucas emphasised the importance of protecting the progress achieved and ensuring continuity in service delivery.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for the two leading political parties represented in Council to reflect on the past five years.
Cllr Minette Bosman represented the Democratic Alliance (DA), and reflected on the shared journey, describing it as one marked by moments of progress, opportunities for engagement and a commitment to standing up for the interests of residents.
She expressed appreciation for the working relationships and engagements throughout the term and thanked residents for placing their trust in councillors to represent their interests.
Cllr Bosman said the DA leaves the Council term with gratitude and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to continuing to ask difficult questions in the interest of community development.
African National Congress (ANC) Chief Whip, Cllr Zoyisile Qusheka, expressed appreciation for the five years of collaboration among political parties represented in Council.
He extended his best wishes to the incoming council and encouraged its members to build on the progress made while addressing areas where improvements are still needed.
In closing, the mayor expressed appreciation to councillors, municipal officials, stakeholders and residents for their contributions throughout the term.
“Our term may be coming to an end. But the journey of Sundays River Valley continues,” he added.
Mayor Lucas then encouraged all eligible voters to exercise their democratic right by voting on 4 November 2026.
