VANDERBIJLPARK.- The Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) has said that it has successfully adopted its Midterm Budget Adjustment for the 2025/2026 financial year in a special sitting held at the Mayor’s Parlour in Vanderbijlpark yesterday.

This is amid fraud cases that were opened by the Democratic Alliance (DA and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) at the Vanderbijlpark Police Station yesterday afternoon.

During the third Budget Adjustment Sitting of the Council yesterday, the budget was passed, however, FF Plus and the DA said that Soxuza manipulated the votes in favour of her party, the ANC, and that proper Council procedures were not followed.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster at the police station, DA Leader in Sedibeng, who is also the Ward 15 Councillor, Prudence Hlanyane, said that the DA, FF Plus and the Economic Freedom Fighter (EFF) were against the passing of the tabled budget in the meeting.

The last Mid-term Budget Adjustment Sitting was stalled following a walkout staged by the Democratic Alliance (DA), Freedom Front Plus (FFPlus), and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) last Wednesday.

The ELM Council had also failed to pass the budget on February 26.

Out of 90 ELM councillors, 83 were present yesterday and when the budget was put to a vote, the results by show of hands were said to be clear:

40 Councillors voted against (DA, FF+, EFF)

42 Councillors voted in favour (ANC and its coalition partners)

1 abstained (ACDP)

Soxuza is said to have incorrectly announced that 46 voted in favour and 37 against.

ELM Spokesperson, Makhosonke Sangweni said the sitting concluded with the adoption of the Midterm Budget Adjustment with a majority decision by Councillors.

“The decision is expected to strengthen financial accountability and sustainability for the remainder of the financial year as it highlights the need to align the budget with actual revenue collections, revised expenditure priorities, and emerging service delivery requirements,” Sangweni said.

Soxuza commended councillors for their robust deliberations and commitment to responsible financial governance.

“The adoption of this adjustment budget demonstrates our collective resolve to prioritise the needs of our communities,” said Soxuza.

“It allows us to respond effectively to changing circumstances and safeguard the long-term financial health of the municipality.”

Yesterday, Hlanyane, said, “The numbers do not add up to the members who were in attendance, those that were for, and those that were against. The Speaker needs to come up with answers as to where she got the number the she declared as the outcome at the end of voting. The were not that much people in the meeting. The votes exceed the members that voted, for and against the budget being passed. This is fraud.”

Sangweni said that the adjusted budget complies with the requirements of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), Section 28, and will now be submitted to relevant oversight bodies, including National and Provincial Treasury, as required.

“With all the commotion surrounding the adoption of the mid-term budget on various media platforms, the municipality would like to take this opportunity to call on political parties to accept constitutional democracy as it plays itself in our Council and country at large. Parties are strongly advised against using this process for partisan politics over the interest of the constituencies and service delivery. ELM remains committed to transparent, accountable, and inclusive budgeting processes that deliver tangible improvements in the quality of life for all residents.”