KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli is the provincial government to restore public faith in its ability to deliver essential services. He emphasized the significance of ensuring that municipalities carry out their responsibilities to provide people with services. Ntuli stated that his government has already intervened in certain municipalities which are facing significant challenges.

He addressed the Provincial District Development Model Indaba on Tuesday and stated that restoring public faith in the government and improving service delivery are top priorities. The purpose of the Provincial District Development Model (DDM) Indaba is to launch integrated service delivery initiatives and roadshows to strengthen DDM implementation across the 11 municipal districts of KwaZulu-Natal. In his closing remarks after the event, Ntuli said, “As we move forward, we're acutely aware of our nation's service delivery challenges. We recognise that the disconnect between what citizens deserve and what they receive is unacceptable.

“We pledge to work tirelessly to rebuild trust, strengthen local government, and ensure our citizens receive the services they deserve. I wish to quote MEC Reverend Zondi when he said, 'The devil is in the details'. In KwaZulu-Natal, we've made significant strides in supporting our municipalities, particularly eThekwini and Msunduzi, our economic hub and capital city. We have always treated local government with the respect and dignity it deserves, and we are committed to seeing visible change in our municipalities. Ntuli urged the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) to develop new ideas, research, and solutions that will enhance and improve local government operations. “Gone are the days when local government was dictated to.

He went on to say, "The DDM Indaba made it a point to appreciate the realities of ward committees and the planning cycle of councils."