The Gauteng provincial government has launched a real-time digital dashboard to monitor the performance of all 11 municipalities as part of efforts to improve oversight of service delivery, financial management and infrastructure performance across the province.
The platform, known as the Gauteng Smart City Performance Monitor, will track key performance indicators related to governance, financial management, infrastructure delivery, climate resilience and disaster preparedness. Provincial authorities said the dashboard will also make municipal performance data accessible to residents to strengthen transparency and accountability.
The dashboard is part of Gauteng’s Local Government Turnaround Strategy adopted in October 2024 to address persistent service delivery and infrastructure challenges across municipalities.
According to the Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, the platform is intended to support a more data-driven approach to municipal management through integrated digital monitoring systems.
The province said the broader digital programme includes technology platforms such as CCTV networks, the LIMIT land invasion monitoring system and smart water management dashboards.
Speaking during a progress briefing on municipal performance, Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Jacob Mamabolo said improved coordination across spheres of government is central to resolving long-standing municipal challenges.
The province reports measurable improvements in several operational areas. Resolved audit findings increased from 35% in the third quarter of 2023/24 to 55% during the same period in 2024/25 while non-compliance findings declined from 35% to 27%. The filling of senior management posts improved from 70% in March 2025 to 86% by March 2026 with all municipal and city manager posts now occupied. Critical technical posts are reported to be 88% filled.
Despite these gains, municipalities continue to face significant financial pressure. Municipal debtors reached R173,3 billion by March 2026 while municipal debt owed to Eskom increased to R31,27 billion, highlighting ongoing challenges around revenue collection and financial sustainability.
Infrastructure performance also remains a concern. The province said municipalities are continuing interventions to reduce non-revenue water losses, strengthen maintenance expenditure and improve water management systems. New digital monitoring tools are expected to support these efforts by providing faster access to operational performance data.
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