On 29 May 2025, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tzaneen firmly rejected the budget tabled in Council, which shockingly allocates only 5% of the total budget to infrastructure maintenance — a decrease of approximately 2% from previous years.
This reduction comes at a time when the visible deterioration of Tzaneen’s infrastructure is accelerating. Roads are crumbling, streetlights remain unfixed, and basic services continue to decline.
The Municipal Manager and his administration appear completely indifferent to the state of our town, despite National Treasury’s recommendation that 8% of the value of infrastructure assets must be budgeted for maintenance.
Despite the substantial budget cut for maintenance, the ANC ignored the complaints and the rejection by residents of the purchase of a new vehicle worth R700 000. A full -time driver is also appointed from funds under “Own Funding projects”.
Treasury’s regulations are specifically designed to eliminate unnecessary and frivolous expenditure, contain costs, ensure that municipal financial resources are used effectively, and prioritise service delivery.
This budget is not only short-sighted- it’s a slap in the face to residents who rely on safe roads, functioning water systems, and basic municipal services.
The DA calls for a responsible, service-focused budget that prioritises maintenance and restores pride in our town. We will not support a budget that neglects the people of Tzaneen.