- DA rejects ANC’s recycled Ekurhuleni Budget.
- The DA submitted common sense proposals that the ANC ignored.
- Without serious reform, this budget will not pass.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni has once again rejected the ANC’s budget after the governing party arrogantly re-tabled the very same budget it presented last week.
The ANC had an opportunity to choose residents over politics. Instead, it chose to recycle a failed budget and expected a different result.
The DA has put forward workable, resident-focused solutions aimed at shielding households and businesses from rising costs, deteriorating infrastructure, and failing service delivery. We formally submitted a letter to Executive Mayor Alderman Nkosindiphile Xhakaza outlining bold budget amendments and governance reforms designed to prioritise service delivery, restore accountability, and deliver meaningful relief to residents, businesses, and ratepayers across Ekurhuleni.
In our submission, we highlight the growing disconnect between the realities faced by residents and the priorities of the ANC-led administration.
The DA’s proposed budget interventions include:
- A 1% reduction in property rates to provide immediate financial relief to homeowners and businesses under severe economic pressure.
- The reallocation of R15 million from the Ekurhuleni Development Agency towards streetlight repairs, pothole rehabilitation, and critical infrastructure maintenance.
- The reallocation of R40 million from wasteful legacy projects to address water leaks, replace ageing and collapsing water infrastructure, clean illegal dumping sites, cut overgrown grass, and maintain parks and community facilities.
- The establishment of a ring-fenced infrastructure fund, with at least 70% of the capital budget dedicated to roads, water, electricity, and waste removal, preventing unauthorised transfers and the misuse of infrastructure funding.
- A decisive crackdown on electricity theft, currently estimated at 15.5%, through the implementation of smart meters, targeted enforcement operations, a dedicated infrastructure protection unit, and the prosecution of criminal syndicates.
- Full transparency regarding the City’s Eskom debt bailout, including a publicly available recovery plan, quarterly progress reports, and independent oversight mechanisms to safeguard the City’s financial future.
Beyond budget reform, the DA is calling for stronger governance measures to restore accountability and public trust. These include:
- Lifestyle audits for all Members of the Mayoral Committee, Heads of Department, and senior officials.
- A freeze on non-essential senior management appointments.
- Performance-based contracts linked directly to measurable service delivery outcomes.
- Zero-tolerance consequence management for corruption, maladministration, and poor performance.
The DA is also demanding an end to unnecessary luxury spending on vehicles, international travel, office refurbishments, and consultants. These cost-saving measures were implemented during the DA-led administration but appear to have been abandoned since the ANC returned to power.
The people of Ekurhuleni are tired of empty promises, broken infrastructure, and declining services. The DA has put forward practical, resident-focused solutions that prioritise service delivery, financial sustainability, and accountability over cadre deployment and wasteful expenditure.
We will continue to hold the ANC administration accountable and fight for a budget that serves the people of Ekurhuleni rather than political insiders. Residents deserve action, results, and real value for the rates and taxes they pay.