The City of Ekurhuleni held an extraordinary council meeting on March 10, which saw former MMC for Finance Jongisizwe Dlabathi reinstated shortly after his brief resignation.

The meeting followed recent leadership changes, including the election of a new speaker after former speaker Dora Mlambo stepped down.

Dlabathi’s resignation had sparked uncertainty in the municipality’s financial leadership amid internal disagreements within the ANC in Ekurhuleni.

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However, he was reinstated during the same council sitting and attended as an ordinary councillor.
He is expected to be sworn in again as MMC for Finance.

During the meeting, the council approved the 2025/26 adjustment budget, which had been presented by acting Finance MMC Nomandla Mlozi during Dlabathi’s absence.

Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza welcomed the approval, describing it as a sign of stability and decisive governance.

The mayor’s office said the budget reflects the city’s commitment to improving service delivery and municipal infrastructure.

The adjustment budget increases the city’s operating revenue by R829.9m, bringing it to R66.325b, while operating expenditure rises by R784.8m to R65.629b, improving the operating surplus by R45.1m to R695.4m.

The capital budget also increased by R158.26m, to R3.355b, with a strong focus on infrastructure maintenance and service delivery improvements.

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Key allocations include:
• R239m for repairs and maintenance, supporting the Fixing the Frontline programme.
• R113.1m for energy infrastructure upgrades through the Urban Development Funding Grant.
• R115m for ICT projects, including fibre networks, data centres and Wi-Fi nodes.
• R12m to address ageing fleet challenges in the Energy Department.
• R8m for the procurement of two graders for community services.
• R5m to complete the Duduza customer care project.
• R8m increase in bursaries, bringing the total allocation to R15m.

Xhakaza said the approved budget demonstrates the council’s commitment to governance and service delivery.

“The approval of the adjustment budget by council today shows that Ekurhuleni is moving with purpose and stability.

“Resources are being directed where they are needed most – repairs, maintenance, infrastructure renewal and frontline service delivery,” he said.

The city also highlighted its debt write-off programme, implemented between July 1 and December 31, 2025, which provided relief to struggling households.

A total of R2.24b in municipal debt was written off for 223 918 approved and deemed indigent accounts.
Despite the approval, opposition parties rejected the budget.

The DA criticised it for failing to address ongoing service delivery disruptions in several areas, including Bedfordview, Benoni, Etwatwa, Germiston and Kempton Park.

DA finance spokesperson Fanyana Nkosi said residents continue to face prolonged water and electricity outages and inadequate refuse collection.

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ActionSA also opposed the budget, arguing it does not prioritise residents’ needs or address the city’s financial challenges.

Xolani Khumalo, leader of ActionSA’s Ekurhuleni caucus, highlighted reductions in plans to insource security guards and cleaners, underinvestment in water and energy infrastructure, and unspent funds for ablution facilities in informal settlements.

Dlabathi’s return to the finance portfolio is expected to play a key role in overseeing the implementation of the approved budget.

Residents and stakeholders will now be watching whether the leadership changes and the adjustment budget translate into improved governance and better service delivery across the metro.