The eThekwini Ratepayers and Residents Association has become one of the first organisations in South Africa to pilot a cutting-edge community reporting platform developed by a University of KwaZulu-Natal student.
The platform, named CityMenderSA, is being hailed as a game-changer in public service accountability. Uniquely designed to require no registration or login, the free tool allows residents to swiftly report civic issues such as potholes, malfunctioning streetlights, and water leaks.
Key features of CityMenderSA include:
- 📍 Location pinning of issues
- 🛠 A reference number for every report
- 📈 Real-time tracking and updates
- 🗺 A live interactive map displaying all reports across the country
The initiative was developed in close collaboration with community leaders and ERRA affiliates, with the aim of empowering residents to hold local government structures accountable.
“We’re proud to be part of this pilot. Tools like CityMenderSA give everyday citizens a voice and a practical way to improve our neighbourhoods,” said a representative from ERRA.
CityMenderSA is now live and open for public use at www.citymendersa.co.za. Residents are encouraged to test the system, submit reports, and share the platform widely.
With community support and widespread adoption, CityMenderSA may just help South Africans reclaim their streets—one issue at a time.