Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Willie Pretorius
The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the implementation of the Financial Recovery Plan (FRP) for the Ditsobotla Local Municipality, approved and presented by the Minister of Finance, Enoch Gondongwana, on 3 February 2026, as a necessary intervention to reestablish sound financial management, restore governance and improve service delivery.
The investigation by the National Cabinet Representative (NCR) Team confirmed what residents have known for almost three decades – that Ditsobotla has been deliberately captured ANC cadres to establish criminal mafia-like syndicate to loot the municipality bare and in the process collapse any semblance of governance and service delivery.
For decades successive ANC-led administrations have adopted unfunded budgets, awarded tenders illegally, and deliberately eroded oversight and accountability, and through cadre deployment, ensured that the looting continues resulting in a current cash deficit exceeding R2 billion.
The ANC’s criminality runs so deep that the Auditor-General could not audit the financial statements for last five financial years. We are encouraged that investigations by the Specialised Investigating Unit (SIU) and other law enforcement agencies are advancing speedily and welcomes government’s commitment to ensure that all parties implicated in criminality are arrested, prosecuted and sentenced.
Almost 60% of all water available is lost due to persistent pipe leaks, faulty meters, and illegal connections, while 85% of electricity is lost due to tampered and faulty meters and illegal connections.
The DA supports the objectives of the recovery plan, particularly efforts to restore financial stability, improve governance, strengthen oversight mechanisms, reduce water and electricity losses through the roll out of prepaid meters and disconnecting illegal connections and accurate billing and collections to improve revenue collection that will improve service delivery capacity.
However, the approval of a recovery plan alone will not fix Ditsobotla. Residents have seen many plans before. What matters now is implementation.
The DA will closely monitor the municipality’s progress against the commitments contained in the FRP and will insist on transparent reporting, measurable outcomes, and accountability for those responsible for delivering on the plan.
Attention must be given to invest in infrastructure maintenance, improving revenue management, filling critical vacancies not through ANC cadre deployment, but recruiting qualified, skilled and experienced professional, strengthening financial controls, concluding outstanding investigations, and ensuring that public funds are used responsibly and in the interests of residents.
The requirement for monthly and quarterly reporting provides an important opportunity to track progress and ensure that the municipality remains accountable to both government and the people it serves.
The DA believes residents deserve more than promises on paper. They deserve a municipality that is financially stable, capable of delivering services, and committed to accountable governance.
As Ditsobotla embarks on this recovery process, the DA will continue to exercise rigorous oversight and fight for the full implementation of reforms that restore dignity, service delivery, and public confidence in local government.