PHALABORWA – Opposition parties in Ba-Phalaborwa have strongly rejected the municipality’s newly adopted 2026/27 budget, arguing that the ANC-led administration lacks the capacity and financial resources to address the area’s ongoing infrastructure and service delivery challenges.

The Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality formally adopted its integrated development plan (IDP), budget and tariff book for the 2026/27 financial year during a council meeting on Wednesday, May 27.

The municipality approved a budget of R746.1 million, which it says is aimed at consolidating progress made during the current council term while responding to financial and service delivery challenges facing local communities.

Key projects prioritised

Among the key projects prioritised for implementation are:

• Electrification of 70 households in Prieska
• Upgrading of electricity infrastructure in Phalaborwa town
• Tarring of roads in several wards
• Installation of a stormwater culvert in Shitshitwe
• Rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged by recent floods through the municipal disaster response grant

Projects currently underway

Several infrastructure projects are also currently underway, including:

• Rehabilitation of the Derrick Nyathi Bridge
• Upgrades to roads in Selwane, Namakgale and Lulekani
• Improvements to streets near schools and community facilities

DA: ‘Unfunded budget incapable of reversing decline’

However, the DA has rejected the budget, describing it as unfunded and incapable of reversing years of infrastructure decline.

In a statement, the DA said the municipality had no credible recovery plan and that residents continue to suffer from deteriorating roads, stormwater systems, electricity infrastructure and basic municipal services.

“The municipality cannot fix what it broke,” the DA said.

The DA further announced that it would seek intervention from provincial and national government and plans to table a motion calling for a moratorium on further development in Phalaborwa Town until existing infrastructure is rehabilitated.

EFF: ‘Disaster recovery not prioritised’

The EFF also criticised the budget and IDP process, arguing that the municipality failed to adequately prioritise disaster recovery following the devastating floods experienced earlier this year.

The party said resources should have been redirected from non-essential projects to emergency interventions aimed at repairing damaged roads, drainage systems and water infrastructure.

“The real needs of residents continue to be ignored while communities face water shortages, deteriorating roads, unemployment and poor service delivery,” the EFF said in a statement.

The party called for urgent reprioritisation of municipal funds towards disaster recovery, improved accountability and meaningful public participation in municipal planning processes.