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Chaos for KZN Drivers as R500m Debt Fight Shuts Licence Services
When debt becomes a political weapon in Durban
Across KwaZulu-Natal, a simmering debt dispute between the provincial government and the eThekwini Municipality has spilt into public outrage, political accusations, and widespread disruption. At the heart of the conflict lies a staggering R500 million in unpaid property rates, allegedly owed to the city by the provincial Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. The amount wasn’t settled, and the city responded harshly, cutting electricity and water to certain provincial offices, including key motor vehicle and driver licence centres. That closure left motorists stranded with no access to licence services.
Since the shutdown, motorists have angrily vented on social media, complaining of delays, ruined plans, and what many call “service delivery blackouts.” The frustration isn’t just about bureaucracy; it hits daily life, no licence, no new plates, no legal driving.
Politicians point fingers, and nothing gets fixed
The fallout was immediate. The Democratic Alliance (DA) in KwaZulu-Natal publicly attacked Cyril Xaba, the mayor of eThekwini Municipality, accusing him of using “council resources to politicise his failures.” According to the DA’s provincial chair, Dean Macpherson, Xaba was unfairly trying to shift the blame onto Martin Meyer, the provincial MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure. Macpherson said it was “laughable but unsurprising” that mayoral leadership wanted to blame others for the mess.
On the other side, Xaba defended the city’s actions, saying that the DA was guilty of “selective information” and “cheap political point scoring.” He argued that the unpaid rates lay with Public Works, not with municipal mismanagement, and accused DA executive members of running a misinformation campaign about issues, including water quality at beaches.
Debt older than today’s headlines
To understand why things escalated so quickly, one has to look back a little. The R500 million refers to property rates owed by the provincial government for its many properties across municipalities, a debt that dates back years. Public Works acknowledges the debt but says it simply doesn’t have the funds to settle it in a lump sum right now. The department has reportedly asked the relevant provincial oversight department, the KwaZulu‑Natal Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), to intervene and officially declare this an intergovernmental dispute.
Public Works says it has reached out repeatedly to eThekwini’s leadership, attempting to negotiate payment plans. They stress that they remain committed to settling the debt but point out that several municipalities across the province have failed to engage in good faith.
Why the rest of KZN should care
This isn’t just a Durban problem. When a provincial department can’t settle its municipal bills, other cities and towns may also be affected. The rate bill owed by one department hints at a much larger structural challenge: underfunded provincial departments and overburdened municipalities. That imbalance eventually hits residents, the ratepayers, through service failures, shutoffs, or politically charged standoffs.
For ordinary citizens, this mess isn’t about numbers on a ledger. It’s about standing in long queues to get licence plates. It’s about being unable to renew formal documents. It’s about real inconvenience and loss of time and money.
Politically, it matters too. The DA’s attack suggests that opposition parties will use this debt dispute to frame the ANC-led municipal government as inept. And with local government elections coming next year, this could influence how people vote, especially in urban centres like Durban.
Is there a way forward?
For now, the only proposed fix is mediation. Public Works wants Cogta to step in and broker a settlement, maybe through a staggered payment plan. That might allow services to be restored, relieve public frustration, and prevent future shutdowns. But for that to work, both sides need to step back from politicking and treat municipal services as priorities, not bargaining chips.
Until then, Durban-area drivers will remain stuck, waiting for their licences. And residents across KZN will be watching closely, because this isn’t just about one city’s mess. It’s a warning sign for the rest of the province.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: News24
