eThekwini Municipality says it is seeking support from national and provincial departments to address challenges in upgrading informal settlements. The municipality frames the request as necessary to improve how informal areas are developed and serviced, pointing to ongoing difficulties that it says require cooperation beyond local government. In its appeal, eThekwini indicates that additional assistance is needed to strengthen planning and implementation of informal settlement upgrade programmes. The call is directed at relevant national and provincial departments, suggesting that the scale of work and resource requirements exceed what the municipality can manage alone. While the available information focuses on the request for intergovernmental support, it underscores that improving informal settlements is positioned as an ongoing governance and delivery priority for eThekwini. The municipality’s statement does not specify timelines or funding amounts, but it emphasizes coordination with higher levels of government as a key step toward tackling barriers to upgrading informal settlements.