28/05/2026
DA rejects Greater Tzaneen budget and seeks urgent National Treasury intervention
Issued by Councillor Chrisma Bredenkamp
Greater Tzaneen Municipality
Date: 28 May 2026
Release: Immediate
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality (GTM) will seek the urgent intervention of National Treasury after the ANC majority forced through the 2026/2027 municipal budget tabled by Mayor Odas Ngobeni, despite serious concerns and objections raised by the DA at the Council meeting held today, 28 May 2026.
We will ask National Treasury to urgently review the credibility, lawfulness and sustainability of GTM’s final budget.
The DA cannot support a budget that imposes severe tariff increases on residents, including 281.77% for sewerage, and water tariff increases of 62.30% for Haenertsburg and 101.52% for other users, while failing to properly fund the maintenance and renewal of critical municipal infrastructure.
This is even more unacceptable as infrastructure and service delivery continue to deteriorate and collapse after years of neglect under the ANC.
National Treasury has repeatedly emphasised that municipalities must prioritise the renewal and maintenance of existing infrastructure. MFMA Circular No. 71 sets an 8% repairs and maintenance norm based on the carrying value of municipal infrastructure assets, not merely as a percentage of the annual operating budget.
GTM’s maintenance allocation falls far short of this standard. The municipality’s maintenance budget has been set at approximately 5% of operating expenditure. This is plainly inadequate to maintain municipal assets, prevent further deterioration and provide reliable services.
In respect of electricity reticulation, NERSA recommends that at least 6% of electricity income should be allocated towards maintenance. GTM has failed to meet even this benchmark, despite ongoing infrastructure collapse and service delivery failures.
The budget also fails the test of fair and transparent public participation. National Treasury Budget Circular 132 projected CPI inflation of 3.7% for the 2026/27 financial year as a key assumption to be considered in municipal budget preparation. GTM cannot rely on public participation based on a 3.7% assumption during the IDP and budget consultation process, and then ambush residents with shocking final tariff increases.
These exorbitant increases were not disclosed, let alone properly explained or justified, during the IDP and budget public participation process.
This is unacceptable given the ongoing water and sanitation crisis in Greater Tzaneen. Residents are being asked to pay more while most continue to suffer water shedding, unreliable supply and visible sewage overflows.
The DA is further concerned that Mopani District Municipality failed to attend key public participation meetings in Tzaneen and Haenertsburg, despite its water and sanitation responsibilities. It was also clearly acknowledged during the consultation process that Mopani does not have the financial capacity to make meaningful provision for the maintenance of Tzaneen’s water and sanitation infrastructure, and that it has not funded a capital project for Tzaneen since 2012.
We urge residents to make use of the voter registration weekend scheduled for 20–21 June 2026 to ensure that they are registered to vote in the November municipal election. Residents must be registered to vote for change.
Enquiries:
Councillor Chrisma Bredenkamp
Greater Tzaneen Municipality
082 473 7971
Rodger Ferguson
DA Researcher
084 999 1356
