The Democratic Alliance in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) has rejected the draft 2026/2027 budget and revised Integrated Development Plan (IDP) as tabled by the Mayor at a council meeting held on 26 March 2026, and has called for a significant increase in provisions made for the maintenance of municipal infrastructure and the financial ringfencing of all core municipal services.
We cannot continue to allow our municipal infrastructure to crumble and decay, and for the delivery of services to continue to deteriorate. Well-maintained infrastructure is a prerequisite for reliable service delivery and the socio-economic development of GTM’s communities.
Yet, while residents face collapsing road and electricity infrastructure, let alone failures in the delivery of water and sanitation – which is ultimately the responsibility of the Mopani District Municipality – the municipality is intent on setting aside R2.5 million to purchase a new bus and R20 million to renovate the municipal building.
National Treasury has for more than a decade strongly emphasised that municipalities must prioritise the renewal of existing infrastructure. Its long-standing benchmark, as reflected in MFMA Circular No. 71, provides that repairs and maintenance should be budgeted at 8% of the municipality’s total asset base, and not merely as a percentage of the annual budget allocation.
In respect of GTM’s electricity reticulation system, National Energy Regulator of South Africa recommends that at least 6% of the municipality’s electricity income should be allocated towards maintenance, but the municipality has failed to do so.
As the DA, we will not support irresponsible budgeting that fails to respond to the real needs of residents and does not prioritise infrastructure maintenance and reliable service delivery.