HOEDSPRUIT – The VF Plus has rejected the Maruleng Local Municipality’s (MLM) draft budget for the 2026/27 financial year, arguing that it places undue emphasis on administrative spending while failing to adequately address basic service delivery challenges.

Residents face 3.7% average tariff hike

VF Plus Cllr Pieter Gerber said in a media statement that the MLM could not support the proposed budget and its associated tariff increases, which are expected to place additional strain on residents.

According to Gerber, residents face an average tariff hike of 3.7%, while allocations for administrative and certain capital expenditure are set to rise sharply.

Among the party’s key concerns is the increase in funding for community committees, which jumps from R4.3m to R7.6m.

Spending on infrastructure items such as cemetery fencing is also set to rise significantly, from R388 000 to R2m, while fencing at the Thusang Service Centre is budgeted to increase from R200 000 to R1.5m.

Office and IT equipment spending more than doubles

The draft budget further proposes higher spending on office and IT equipment, with office equipment increasing from R500 000 to R1.4m and IT equipment from R100 000 to R1m.

An ongoing allocation of R2.5m has also been set aside for network upgrades.

In addition, R1m has been earmarked for upgrading a building belonging to the NGO Kruger 2 Canyon.
Gerber said these items collectively reflect an increase of more than R6.4m, rising from approximately R4.6m in the previous budget to over R11m in the current draft.

He argued that while administrative and support-related expenditure continues to grow, essential services such as water provision, road maintenance, sanitation and electricity remain under pressure in the predominantly rural municipality.

“The draft budget fails to strike a balance between administrative costs and improving direct service delivery to residents,” Gerber said.

VF Plus vows to act as watchdog

He added that the VF Plus would continue to act as a watchdog to ensure that municipal budgets prioritise infrastructure and core services that directly impact residents’ daily lives, rather than what the party views as unnecessary administrative expansion.

Municipality defends budget

MLM spokesperson Justice Shipalana defended the draft budget, saying it reflects the needs and priorities of the community.

“The budget is shaped by the voices and priorities of community needs. This reflects the collective aspirations of the community,” Shipalana said.

He described the budget as a “tool for transformation” aligned with the municipality’s strategic goals, including poverty eradication, improved service delivery, local economic development and financial sustainability.

“The financial health of our municipality is sacrosanct and must be preserved at all costs,” he said.