UKZN and Partners Honour Innovative Municipalities at the 2025 MIRA Awards

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The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), in partnership with the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), hosted the second edition of the Municipal Innovation Recognition Awards (MIRA) on 30 June 2025.

The ceremony took place at the Southern Sun Elangeni Hotel in Durban.

The awards recognise municipalities that have introduced innovative solutions to improve public service delivery. The event particularly celebrated those that took part in the Municipal Innovation Maturity Index (MIMI), a tool developed to assess and strengthen the innovation capacity of local governments. As a benchmarking framework, MIMI helps municipalities evaluate their level of innovation readiness and identify areas for improvement. It is primarily designed for use by municipal officials and policymakers.

In her welcome address, Ms Normah Zondo, UKZN’s Executive Director for Corporate Relations, said the awards celebrated the creativity and resilience shown by urban and rural municipalities as they navigate complex governance challenges.

“The volume and depth of this year’s submissions reflect a collective commitment to intentional innovation and to reimagining local government in ways that prioritise citizens," said Zondo. "Innovation in local government is not about novelty alone. It’s about building systems that work, teams that embrace risk, institutions that adapt, and partnerships that break down silos in pursuit of shared development goals.”

Professor Anil Chuturgoon, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation, commended the commitment shown by all partners in advancing the MIRA initiative. He was speaking on behalf of UKZN Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Nana Poku.

“As a University, we are committed to strengthening skills development and innovation management within local government,” said Chuturgoon. “From developing municipal innovation charters to embedding innovation in strategic planning, our goal is to help build a resilient and proactive local state. We invite more municipalities to join the MIMI rollout.”

Delivering the keynote address, Deputy Minister of DSTI Ms Nomalungelo Gina warned that resistance to change hampers progress toward technological advancement in municipalities.

“Evidence shows that municipalities which adopt innovation and new technologies improve their quality of service delivery,” she said, adding that: “Technology enhances efficiency, reduces human error, and modernises outdated legacy systems that often generate public dissatisfaction.”

SALGA President, Councillor Bheke Stofile, thanked UKZN and its partners, saying the awards programme demonstrated the importance of collaboration. He welcomed its timing as government undertakes a review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government which seeks to address systemic poverty, particularly in low-income municipalities.

“This is the time to build on what works, learn from what doesn’t, and continue to innovate collaboratively,” Stofile said.

eThekwini Mayor and UKZN alumnus, Mr Cyril Xaba, highlighted the urgent need for adaptable service delivery models. “Innovation is not a luxury, it is essential. It is the engine of sustainable service delivery and a catalyst for economic upliftment. We must ensure that the spirit of innovation leads to practical, life-changing outcomes for our communities.”

Also in attendance, Deputy Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Dr Namane Dickson Masemola, emphasised the critical role universities play as innovation partners. He called for closer engagement between Higher Education institutions and COGTA, particularly during the upcoming Roadshow.

All participating municipalities received recognition, with special awards going to those that reached Innovation Maturity Levels 3 and 4. The City of Cape Town received the Trailblazer Award for its Digital Wayleave Management System - the only municipality to achieve Level 4.

Other recognised municipalities included the City of Tshwane, eThekwini Municipality (which submitted the most entries), Ehlanzeni District Municipality, Emalahleni Local Municipality, and Waterberg District Municipality. Municipalities including Vhembe, Modimolle-Mookgopong, and uMgungundlovu were acknowledged for promising department-level innovations with potential for replication.

The evening ceremony was attended by representatives from municipalities, UKZN, DSTI, SALGA, and COGTA, alongside media and members of the MIRA project team. The programme was directed by Dr Lawrence Ogunsanya, with Professor Sithembiso Myeni presenting the awards and delivering the vote of thanks.

Words: Sithembile Shabangu

Photographs: Sethu Dlamini