Endumeni Municipality is set to be placed under provincial administration after councillors again failed to pass the 2026/27 budget at a council meeting this morning.

KwaZulu-Natal Finance MEC Francois Rodgers had given the municipality until July 31 to approve a legally compliant and funded budget after a series of failed attempts.

The deadlock continued this morning, with councillors voting 7-6 against the proposed budget. Five ANC and two DA councillors rejected it, while five IFP councillors and one ABC councillor supported the proposal.

Budget deadlock continues

Mayor Mcebo Mkhize had tabled a revised proposal aimed at addressing the municipality’s approximately R500 million Eskom debt.

The plan included a strict payment arrangement with Eskom, establishing a dedicated savings account targeting R10 million by the second year, and recovering R28 million in outstanding rates owed by government departments. The recovered funds would be ring-fenced for the Eskom debt.

Mkhize also said Rodgers had recommended appointing a financial specialist to strengthen cost controls and prevent unnecessary expenditure, including spending on travel and other non-essential items.

Despite these measures, opposition councillors remained unconvinced.

ANC councillor Sadeck Ameena said the Eskom debt was not the municipality’s only problem, arguing that the budget did not adequately address service delivery backlogs.

“Our town is dark and potholed like a rural area,” she said.

She also questioned whether promised cost-cutting measures and a moratorium on appointments were being implemented, while calling for greater efforts to collect outstanding revenue.

DA councillor Salem Abdool described the proposal as a “camouflaged budget” which he said remained unfunded.

“Only 26% has been earmarked for service delivery when we asked for at least 38% to 40%. The budget is not aligned to service delivery and will bring no solace to our hard-pressed residents,” he said.

With the deadline now expired without a budget being adopted, the provincial government is expected to invoke its constitutional powers to place Endumeni under administration.

This would mean key municipal decisions, including financial and budgetary matters, would be subject to provincial oversight.

The MEC could consider dissolving the Council, but this is a lengthy process requiring a report and approval from the National Council of Provinces.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Like our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram or email us at dundee.courier@caxton.co.za. Add us on WhatsApp 071 277 1394.