Please find attached soundbites in English by Gerhard Strydom
Please find attached soundbites in Afrikaans by Gerhard Strydom
– Council has yet again approved an unfunded 2026/27 budget despite warnings about its long-term consequences,
– Matlosana residents will continue paying excessive property rates while service delivery declines,
– High tariffs are driving away investment and limiting economic growth and job creation.
Council has once again approved an unfunded budget for the City of Matlosana for the 2026/27 financial year, placing further strain on residents who are already battling the consequences of poor financial management.
The budget was passed by the ANC, EFF and PA despite clear warnings about the long-term consequences of adopting a budget without a credible plan to restore financial stability.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) could not support a budget that fails to address Matlosana’s growing financial crisis. Instead, residents are being forced to carry an even heavier burden while receiving increasingly poor services in return.
An unfunded budget of this nature will only deepen Matlosana’s financial challenges. It will weaken service delivery, delay critical infrastructure maintenance and leave residents paying more for less.
A key concern raised by the DA during the budget process was the excessive property rates charged to residents. Based on a property value of R1 million, Matlosana residents will, from 1 July 2026, pay R1 371.16 per month in property rates. In comparison, property rates for a similarly valued property are approximately R440.41 per month in Sandton and R235.65 per month in Cape Town.
These excessive rates are not only placing residents under further financial pressure but are also discouraging investment in Matlosana. Businesses and investors are increasingly looking elsewhere, limiting economic growth and job creation.
The DA will continue fighting for responsible financial management, fair tariffs and a municipality that puts residents first. However, real change will only come when residents choose a government that prioritises accountability, service delivery and proper financial management.
Residents who want a budget that works for them, improved service delivery and urgent action to fix failing infrastructure must ensure they are correctly registered to vote for the DA on 4 November 2026. Only a DA-led government can rescue Matlosana from financial mismanagement and build a municipality that delivers for its residents.