The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) has rejected a report by the Tshwane Roads and Transport Department, which requested the write-off of capital assets valued at about R101-million.

According to the party, writing off the assets would effectively mean that public funds spent on projects that were never completed or put into operation would be declared lost.

This will signal significant losses of taxpayer funds linked to incomplete infrastructure projects.

FF+ councillor Nick Pascoe said the issue of so-called ‘ghost assets’ has been a longstanding concern, alleging that poor record keeping and project management have allowed unfinished projects to remain listed as capital assets for years.

Pascoe said the party previously warned in 2022 that projects funded by taxpayers were being started without proper oversight or completion plans.

“This has resulted in infrastructure that provides no service to residents while still appearing on municipal financial records.”

Pascoe claimed that in 2023, a list of 2 435 incomplete projects with an estimated value of R12.78-billion was identified.

He said the latest report, which focuses only on projects within one department, reportedly lists 539 incomplete projects valued at R2.62-billion.

“The figures suggest that the scale of incomplete or abandoned projects across the metro could be far greater than currently acknowledged,” he said.

“Even the Executive Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, admitted in 2025 that projects are often started without proper planning, feasibility studies or budget certainty. Yet the current report demonstrates there are still no consequences for poor management,” Pascoe added.

Pascoe criticised what he described as a lack of accountability, claiming that responsibility for failed projects is often shifted to consultants while officials responsible for managing public funds face limited consequences.

“The proposed write-offs raise concerns about fruitless and wasteful expenditure and warn that the matter could pose a broader financial risk to the metro if left unresolved.”

He said the FF+ will not allow a financial risk of R2.6-billion to be swept under the carpet and has formally recorded its negative vote to show that the era of unaccountable spending is over.

“Residents deserve a metro that is responsibly governed – not one that offers excuses while billions simply disappear.”

No response had been received from the metro by the time of publication.

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