Page 40 - UKZN MIMI Report 2025

10. CONCLuSION
The 2024–2025 Municipal Innovation Maturity Index (MIMI) provides important insights into how South African municipalities are progressing in their innovation journeys. While the national maturity level remains at Level 2— indicating that innovation is generally understood and recognised—many municipalities are beginning to put systems in place to move from understanding to practice.
A national average score of Level 2 suggests that most municipalities have a basic grasp of innovation concepts and have started incorporating them into strategic documents. However, actual implementation is still emerging. At this stage, innovation is defined and discussed, and some strategies or policies may exist, but consistent application across departments and operations is limited. This level of maturity means municipalities may have outlined innovation goals, but the resources, coordination, and practices needed to bring those goals to life are still developing.
The MIMI findings further show that only a small number of municipalities have reached Level 4, where innovation is actively managed, embedded into organisational processes, and supported through structured systems. Meanwhile, a majority of municipalities remain at Level 2, with a smaller proportion at Level 3, where innovation is applied in certain areas but not yet consistent.
Across the country, more than half of the participating municipalities have incorporated innovation into their strategic plans, and many have begun forming partnerships with universities, civil society, and other sectors. While dedicated innovation units and champions are not yet widespread, their presence in some municipalities points to emerging institutional frameworks that can be scaled up.
The report also points to areas with potential for growth, such as expanding dedicated resources, supporting innovation through leadership structures, and establishing dedicated innovation units. Encouragingly, many municipal officials—particularly at junior and middle levels—are already engaging in innovative practices and looking for new ways to improve service delivery.
Overall, this year’s MIMI results show that the foundations for municipal innovation are in place and growing. By continuing to invest in innovation skills, systems, and partnerships, municipalities can improve the way they deliver services. The MIMI framework will continue to play a valuable role in tracking this progress, promoting learning across municipalities, and supporting a more capable, inclusive, and future- ready local government sector.
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MUNICIPAL INNOVATION MATURITY INDEX (MIMI)