Two contrasting perspectives clashed during the State of the City Address and council meeting held at the Dan Tloome Council Chambers on Tuesday, 23 June.

After extensive debate, the ANC-PA coalition secured victory with 35 votes against the 19 votes cast by the DA and Freedom Front Plus. The EFF abstained from voting after leaving the meeting earlier in protest against the approved 2026/27 budget.

The Executive Mayor of JB Marks Municipality, Cllr Gaba Thithiba Ka Qhele, said the approved budget would help build a municipality that is resilient and responsive to the needs of its residents.

He added that the opposition’s lack of support for the budget demonstrated that they did not care about the people of JB Marks.

“This is hypocrisy of the highest order. After we have approved the budget, the same councillors then demand services from the same budget,” he said during the council meeting.

The DA, Freedom Front Plus and EFF opposed the budget, citing concerns about revenue collection, infrastructure challenges, debt owed to Eskom and overall accountability. One of the most contentious issues raised was a proposed salary increase of up to 50% for senior management.

DA caucus leader Hans-Jurie Moolman pointed to South Africa’s rising youth unemployment rate.

“The struggle of the youth of 1976 against injustice continues, as the injustice of unemployment among young people aged 15 to 24 in South Africa has, according to Stats SA, increased to 45.6% this year. This harsh reality and indignity is also true for the youth of our city, who should have been the beneficiaries of an enabling environment and local economic development in a city with enormous potential,” he said.

His comments were met with backlash from ANC councillors, who argued that the injustices experienced by the youth of 1976 could not be compared to current unemployment challenges. Moolman maintained that, despite his background, he could stand in solidarity with those affected.

Moolman further stated that the installation of consumption meters and the correction of inaccurate rates recoveries had not been implemented effectively.

“These revenue enhancement measures have yielded zero results, as revenue has not increased sufficiently to address the deficits of previous years, which are reflected in our bulk services debt for electricity and water. It is clear that our credit control policy is not being applied consistently. Residents who cannot afford electricity are not being registered as indigents to improve revenue management. At the same time, not everyone who is not registered as an indigent has their services disconnected when payments are not made.”

He also highlighted infrastructure challenges, arguing that these issues point to an unfunded budget, as basic services are not being adequately maintained in some areas.

“We are growing backwards, and whatever money we receive has become a free-for-all because no one is held accountable. A tree is known by its fruit. Our communities have experienced the opposite of a funded budget in terms of service delivery,” he said.

The EFF also weighed in, saying that service delivery failures and broken promises had become defining characteristics of the JB Marks leadership. The party referenced Brenda Fassie’s song Promises before walking out of the meeting.

The Freedom Front Plus likewise expressed concern over the municipality’s continued operating losses over the past four years. In the 2024/25 financial year, the municipality recorded a deficit of R125 million, and continued expenditure coupled with insufficient revenue collection painted a bleak financial picture.

“We cannot be in a position where senior management receives salary increases of up to 50%,” said FF Plus councillor Thys Rossouw.

ANC ward councillor Ishmael Moilwa responded by saying opposition parties focused on identifying problems without offering solutions and that they simply “cry and complain”.

The Executive Mayor further ended by saying that there are numerous huge projects in town and the township, where the municipality is showcasing service delivery, such as the Botha Street Pump Station project, Poortjie Dam upgrades as well as approved budget to improve infrastructure in Ikageng Extension 7, amongst other projects.