Endumeni budget fails to win council approval
Councillors failed to approve Endumeni's budget after raising concerns over funding and public participation.
Endumeni Municipality’s proposed 2026/27 budget failed to secure council approval this morning June 18, after the Democratic Alliance (DA) and African National Congress (ANC) voted against its adoption, while Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) councillors supported it.
The meeting marked another unsuccessful attempt to pass the budget, with opposition parties citing concerns over both the budget process and its contents.
DA councillor Saleem Abdoold described the budget as “unfunded, non-aligned and not serving the interests of residents”.
ANC councillor Ameena Sadeck said the party could not support the budget because there had been insufficient consultation with residents and stakeholders.
She further alleged that the municipality’s Integrated Development Plan (IDP), which guides municipal planning and spending priorities, had not been adequately presented to the community.
Before the budget debate could proceed, councillors spent nearly two hours discussing the status of Councillor Mbulelo Pakathi following the termination of his membership by the Abantu Batho Congress (ABC).
Pakathi has previously maintained that a High Court order preserves the status quo until the party resolves its internal leadership dispute, preventing any change to his position in council.
Corruption report sparks debate
The meeting was also marked by questions from the ANC and DA regarding an outstanding report into allegations of corruption involving disaster relief funding.
The funds were allocated as emergency assistance following severe weather that affected the Glencoe and Wasbank areas in December.
Opposition councillors questioned why the report had not been tabled before council, despite allegedly serving before a portfolio committee in March.
IFP councillors objected to the discussion, arguing that neither the report nor Pakathi’s status formed part of the day’s official agenda.
Following several recesses and lengthy deliberations, Speaker Andile Nsibande ruled that both matters would be included as agenda items at the next council meeting.
The municipality will now be required to reconvene council in a further attempt to secure approval of the 2026/27 budget before the June 30 deadline set by the Provincial Government.
