Please find attached soundbite in English by Mduduzi Maphanga.
Please find attached soundbite in Setswana by Mduduzi Maphanga.
- The DA supports fair and lawful job evaluations but cannot support unfunded commitments that place further strain on municipal finances.
- A reported R10.1 million funding shortfall remains unresolved, raising serious concerns about affordability.
- The DA is demanding full financial transparency before any salary adjustments are implemented.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) voted against the adoption of the Task Job Evaluation Report during the Special Council meeting held on 24 June 2026 due to serious concerns regarding its financial sustainability and the lack of critical information provided to councillors.
While the DA welcomes the Task Job Evaluation process as an important mechanism to ensure organisational efficiency, fair grading of posts, and compliance with relevant legislation, councillors were not provided with the report in advance of the meeting. This undermined Council’s ability to properly scrutinise the recommendations before being expected to make an informed decision.
Of even greater concern is the reported R10.1 million funding shortfall associated with the implementation of the recommendations. Despite this significant financial implication, Council was not provided with a credible funding plan explaining how these additional costs would be accommodated.
Although the adopted resolution makes salary adjustments subject to the availability of funding, the DA remains concerned that no objective criteria have been presented to determine what constitutes “available funding”. This is particularly troubling given the municipality’s ongoing financial challenges and the fact that it continues to operate under an unfunded budget.
The DA believes that responsible governance requires decisions to be based on sound financial planning rather than uncertainty. Municipalities cannot commit to additional expenditure without clearly demonstrating how those commitments will be funded without compromising service delivery or placing further pressure on already constrained municipal finances.
The DA has therefore requested that the Executive Mayor, Thabo Jacobs, and the Municipal Manager, Andrew Pholose, provide Council and the Financial Recovery Plan Committee with a comprehensive financial report detailing the municipality’s current revenue position, liabilities, cash flow, and the financial impact of the Financial Recovery Plan interventions. This information is essential for Council to exercise effective oversight and make informed financial decisions.
The DA remains committed to protecting the interests of residents by promoting transparency, responsible financial management, and accountable governance. We will continue to scrutinise municipal decisions to ensure that every financial commitment is sustainable and serves the long-term interests of the people of Kgetlengrivier.