12/06/2026
The DA's Stand on Unfunded Budgets in Mpumalanga Municipalities
By James Masango, MPL - DA Mpumalanga Spokesperson on CoGHSTA
On Friday, 12 June 2026, during the Budget Debate for the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements, and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) in the Mpumalanga Legislature, I addressed the pressing issue of unfunded budgets passed by local municipalities, highlighting the detrimental effect on service delivery and the communities we serve.
Honourable Speaker,
As we convene to discuss the CoGHSTA budget vote for 2026/2027, I must underscore that service delivery across municipalities resembles a sinking ship—where deterioration is the norm rather than the exception. Despite these challenges, I must express gratitude to the department for responding to the DA’s persistent calls regarding the urgent need to address the hazardous issue of asbestos roofs in Thembisile Hani, allocating R67 million for this cause. This commitment is crucial for restoring a sense of safety and dignity to the residents of Verena.
The Department of CoGHSTA holds a critical responsibility—not only to sustain access to services as mandated by our Bill of Rights but to ensure that we restore dignity to the people and enable them to take pride in their communities. However, my recent inquiry to the MEC about the financial crises in eMalahleni and Govan Mbeki municipalities yielded little but laughter, illustrating a worrying indifference to the plight of the very constituents the ANC claims to serve.
It is alarming that eMalahleni and Govan Mbeki municipalities sought to pass budgets that were unfunded by R10.1 billion and R349.3 million, respectively. How can we, as elected officials, expect these municipalities to provide essential services when the financial framework shows a clear shortfall? I urge the MEC to clarify the plan for these municipalities and whether their budgets have been submitted to CoGHSTA and Treasury. Will Provincial Treasury take a firm stance on the unlawful budgets that have become the norm over the years?
The situation cannot persist as it is. To rectify this, we must focus on key areas:
1. **Enhancing Revenue Generation:** Implement accurate billing systems, utilize smart metering technologies, and enforce rigorous credit control measures.
2. **Monitoring Financial Positions:** Constantly assess the financial health of eMalahleni and Govan Mbeki and ensure the implementation of their financial recovery plans.
3. **Enforcing Accountability:** The Auditor-General has consistently flagged issues of lawlessness and accountability in our municipalities. We must restore institutional integrity by holding officials accountable, enforcing consequence management, and fortifying internal controls.
Functional municipalities are essential for job creation and addressing critical issues such as water shortages, which threaten both industries and employment opportunities.
Regarding Human Settlements, I applaud the move to address the alarming 14.6% vacancy rate within the department. Nonetheless, I remain skeptical about our capacity to eradicate the housing backlog, which currently stands at 329,738—an increase of 182,738 homes overdue.
To tackle the challenges in housing initiatives, we must:
- **Increase Housing Output:** Constructing fewer than 200 houses annually is insufficient to meet demand.
- **Hold Contractors Accountable:** Ensure that shoddy workmanship is addressed and consistently blacklist underperforming contractors.
- **Timely Payments:** Ensure contractors are paid on time to prevent project delays.
- **Complete Housing Projects:** Many residents await RDP houses that are finished but not connected to essential services.
It is also imperative to audit past projects from the last eight years to confirm rightful occupancy and eliminate the issue of illegally purchased homes.
In conclusion, we must guarantee that municipalities remain the frontline of service delivery, restoring dignity and hope to the people of Mpumalanga. It is only through proactive measures and accountability that we can begin to mend the rifts in our communities and deliver the quality of life that our citizens deserve.
James Masango
James Masango For Mayor
