ActionSA has submitted an urgent motion in the eThekwini Metro under Section 22(1) of the Rules of Order By-Law to demand urgent accountability and intervention regarding the failed Go! Durban project, which has cost taxpayers R9 billion yet remains a white elephant eight years after its scheduled launch in 2016.
Due to the Metro’s failure to properly implement Go! Durban, the National Treasury has invoked Section 18 of the Division of Revenue Amendment Act (DoRAA) to withhold funding for underperforming and non-compliant projects.
This decision has resulted in the following financial losses for eThekwini:
1. R771.4 million from the 2024/25 Public Transport Network Grant
2. R18.5 million from the Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant
3. R152.6 million and R53.3 million from the Urban Settlement Development Grant
4. R121.4 billion under the 2024 DoRAA
Furthermore, National Treasury had set a deadline of 11 December 2024 for eThekwini to develop a compliance plan for launching the C3 corridor between March and June 2025.
However, during engagements between Treasury and City officials on 21 November and 5 December 2024, it became evident that eThekwini officials had not been mandated by leadership to draft this plan—an alarming display of incompetence and disregard for due process.
In our motion, we are calling on the Executive Committee to:
1. Provide an immediate, comprehensive plan to complete Go! Durban.
2. Disclose the consequences of losing the grant, accountability measures, and mitigation strategies.
With the 2024/25 financial year nearing its end, it is imperative that the city provides clear answers to the following questions:
1. What strategy is in place to complete Go! Durban and prevent further funding losses?
2. What consequences will eThekwini face due to the loss of these grants, and how will the impact be mitigated?
What measures will be taken to ensure accountability and transparency in the management of this project?
The people of eThekwini deserve to know why their money has been wasted and what the leadership intends to do to rectify this crisis.
We urge the council to treat this matter with the urgency it deserves and demand immediate answers from the city leadership.
ActionSA Submits Urgent Motion to Address Go! Durban Failure and Halted Treasury Funding