eMbalenhle residents voice frustrations at IDP and budget consultation
Vusumuzi Mbokazi, the MMC for Civil Engineering, assured residents that their concerns would be escalated to the municipality.
The Govan Mbeki Municipality has officially launched its public consultation meetings for the Draft 2026/2027 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and Budget.
During a consultation session held on April 9 in Ward 12, eMbalenhle, residents raised serious concerns about service delivery and accused the municipality of failing to fulfil its previous commitments.
Community members said that during last year’s IDP and budget consultations, they were promised job opportunities linked to the refurbishment of Albert Luthuli Drive. However, they claim those opportunities never materialised.
Residents further accused the contractor of overlooking local people and instead hiring individuals from outside Ward 12.
Frustrations were also expressed over the rising cost of municipal services, with residents arguing that the municipality is not taking into account their difficult living conditions.
“Most of us are unemployed and rely on our grandparents’ pensions for survival, while others depend on social grants.
“We use that money to buy food and take our children to school. Yet, when job opportunities arise, the municipality hires friends and relatives and expects us to pay for services — with what money?” said one resident.
In response, Vusumuzi Mbokazi, the MMC for Civil Engineering, assured residents that their concerns would be escalated to the municipality.
He encouraged community members to actively participate in the consultation process by submitting their service delivery priorities for consideration in the draft IDP and budget.
Mbokazi also clarified that the proposed budget does not reflect funds readily available to the municipality, but rather includes revenue expected to be collected, including outstanding payments owed by residents.
Following the formal tabling of the draft budget on March 25, the consultation process began with community engagement sessions in different Wards.
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The proposed budget allocates R4.16b to operating expenditure and R192.8m to capital investment programmes. However, with a projected operating revenue of R3.81b, the municipality is facing an operating deficit of R349.3m.
To maintain the sustainability of essential services, the municipality has proposed several tariff increases, which are expected to come into effect on July 1.
These include:
Electricity: 12.74% (subject to approval by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa)
Water and sanitation: 11.00%
Property rates, waste, and other services: 3.7%
The municipality emphasised that public consultations play a critical role in ensuring the budget remains community-driven and responsive to residents’ needs, while also addressing the current financial shortfall.
Residents are encouraged to participate in the consultation sessions to provide input and help shape the municipality’s development priorities for the upcoming financial year.
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