Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English by Rebaona Rampe
Moses Kotane Local Municipality passed an unfunded budget on May 30, 2025, which is unrealistic and not credible as required by legislation. The Democratic Alliance (DA) will write to Acting Mayor Dithothi Tshetlhane to reconsider the budget and prioritise services.
At the top of operating expenditure for the 2025/26 financial year are employee-related costs of 28% compared to operational expenditure of 11%. The municipality can’t be turned into an employment agency, it must prioritise basic services.
The budget contravenes the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) 17 1(a) and (b), as well as Act 18 (b). The total budget of R1.136 billion does not adequately prioritise basic services in a municipality that is rural and cannot generate its own revenue.
The question is why the municipality is not collecting when it has been owed billions according to the audit committee’s report. While at the same time hiring 20 personnel in the speaker’s office, consisting of 10 co-conductors and 10 public participation and community outreach staff—in a municipality that is struggling to provide services, instead of allocating funding to improve service delivery.
The speaker of the Council, Maria Matshaba, wanted the DA to comment on the budget without asking questions, which we refused to do. The actions of the speaker were unfair and irrational.
The DA in Moses Kotane is committed to fighting against the abuse of the MFMA.