The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the decision by the ANC-led Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) to reverse its earlier exclusion of the majority of its councillors and all councillors not belonging to the ANC, from the Integrated Development Plan (IDP), Budget and Performance Management System (PMS) Strategic Planning Session scheduled for 10–12 December 2025.
This reversal follows the DA’s correspondence to Municipal Manager, Donald Mhangwana, demanding accountability for the undemocratic decision to restrict attendance only to the Political Management Team, the Executive Committee, Committee Chairpersons, the MPAC Chairperson, and traditional representatives, essentially reducing the strategic session to an ANC-only (and wholly undemocratic) affair.
After sustained pressure from the DA, the municipality has extended the invitation to all councillors, as required by a binding 2022 council resolution making it mandatory for all councillors to attend the annual strategic session.
However, the decision to extend the invitation only a day before the session was due to commence was wholly inadequate and prejudicial. Late communication of this nature has had the practical effect of discouraging attendance despite the formal reversal, thereby undermining the purpose of the strategic session and effectively weakening democratic participation.
The DA reiterates that this pattern of exclusion, now corrected only under pressure, strikes at the heart of participatory local democracy. Strategic planning for the IDP and Budget shapes the municipality’s service-delivery priorities, resource allocation, and oversight mechanisms. Every elected councillor must be able to participate meaningfully to ensure democratic, accountable governance.
While we welcome the eventual correction, the DA remains deeply concerned that such an exclusion was attempted in the first place. This incident reveals a troubling disregard for statutory obligations under the Constitution, the Municipal Systems Act and council’s own resolutions.
Furthermore, the DA calls on the municipality to ensure that future strategic sessions make use of municipal facilities, rather than external venues, to avoid unnecessary expenditure and ensure cost-effective governance. At a time when residents face failing infrastructure, unreliable services and financial pressure, every rand must be directed toward core service delivery.
We remain committed to safeguarding transparency, accountability and service-delivery planning that truly reflects the needs of Greater Tzaneen’s residents and ratepayers.