Nomalungelo Gina Urges Municipal Innovation in SA
Deputy Minister Gina urges SA municipalities to use innovation for better services as MIRA 2025 awards winners and launches a new R3m funding programme.
July 1, 2025 at 6:10:27 PM
May 15, 2026 at 7:03:26 PM
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Municipalities across South Africa have been urged to adopt new technologies to improve service delivery and build stronger local governments.
Deputy Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Nomalungelo Gina gave this message during the 2nd Municipal Innovation Recognition Awards (MIRA) held in Durban yesterday.
She said innovation is not optional anymore, especially for rural municipalities facing serious development challenges.
“Innovation allows us to leapfrog to better outcomes,” she said. “New technologies disrupt the status quo, reduce costs, and streamline processes, ultimately empowering citizens and restoring public trust in local government.”
Celebrating Innovative Municipalities
The MIRA awards recognise municipalities that use innovative solutions to improve services like water provision, waste management, and citizen engagement.
Key winners included:
City of Cape Town won the Trailblazing Innovation Award for its Digital Wayleave Management System, which makes getting development approvals faster and easier online.
City of Tshwane, Emalahleni, eThekwini, and Waterberg District Municipality – received Special Recognition Awards for reaching Innovation Maturity Level 4, showing their innovation processes are well-managed and consistent.
Vhembe, Waterberg, Modimolle-Mookgopong, and uMgungundlovu – honoured for applying innovation in specific departments, showing promising and repeatable efforts.
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