O.R. Tambo District Municipality was recognised as the Most Improved Municipality in the Eastern Cape on 6 November 2025 during the Premier’s Annual Strategic Leadership Engagement. The accolade shows a major milestone for a district that has spent years overcoming financial strain, governance instability, and declining public trust.
What Happened
The Premier’s engagement emphasized O.R. Tambo District’s rapid progress in stabilising its administration. The municipality entered the second phase of its Financial Recovery Plan this year, a rare achievement among institutions undergoing turnaround processes.
Furthermore, the district now operates with a fully funded budget, reflecting restored financial health and improved credibility.
For the past two financial years, O.R. Tambo District secured consecutive unqualified audit outcomes. This record set a new benchmark for the municipality and showed that governance reforms are taking hold.
Official Response
Executive Mayor Councillor Mesuli Ngqondwana said the recognition symbolised the district’s renewed integrity and resilience. “Because of the state the municipality had been in for years, we once felt unworthy of being associated with the name of the Giant, Oliver Reginald Tambo. But this year, we dare say that we now stand in a place where we can proudly carry that name, with dignity and honour,” he said.
He added that the honour belonged to leadership, officials, and communities who “never stopped believing in our capacity to rise again.”
Community Impact
Local municipalities under the district , including Nyandeni, Port St Johns, Ingquza Hill, King Sabata Dalindyebo, and Mhlontlo, welcomed the turnaround. Residents and civic groups noted that improved governance strengthens service delivery, stabilises administration, and rebuilds public confidence. The district’s reforms are expected to boost financial management, accelerate infrastructure rollout, and support long-term development in rural towns.
