The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) warned Johannesburg Metro Mayor, Dada Morero, that the Metro’s growing financial burden and crumbling infrastructure are not facilitating the City’s progress, on the contrary, it is hampering service delivery to residents and ratepayers.
The Metro has R72 billion in outstanding debt and a shocking R220 billion infrastructure maintenance backlog.
These are long-term challenges that warrant targeted intervention and responsible financial management.
Next week, Council is scheduled to consider a proposed budget of R89,4 billion for the 2026/2027 financial year. The amount comprises an estimated R81 billion for operating expenditure and R7,5 billion for capital expenditure.
The proposed capital expenditure of R7,5 billion is nowhere near enough to address the Metro’s extensive infrastructure challenges and maintenance needs.
The Freedom Front Plus proposed that the Metro should aggressively collect outstanding debt and recover at least 20% of the R72 billion owed, particularly in areas where collection rates are low – this includes parts of Soweto.
In addition, operating expenditure should be reduced by R10 billion through more stringent financial discipline and implementing efficiency measures.
This approach would enable the Metro to allocate approximately R24,4 billion to infrastructure maintenance and upgrades in the next financial year.
Additionally, the Mayor indicated that around 23 000 new job opportunities were created as Johannesburg experienced a 1% economic growth rate.
While job creation is welcomed, it still falls far short given the Metro’s unemployment rate of 34,7% and population of approximately 6,2 million.
With regard to existing infrastructure, residents and ratepayers continue to endure unacceptable failures in many suburbs. After repairs, potholes reappear soon due to poor workmanship. Traffic and street lights are not routinely maintained, while many communities continue to be plagued by frequent power outages.
These challenges point directly to the R220 billion maintenance backlog, which has been growing for many years and keeps mounting.
It is time for the ANC-led administration to put the needs of Johannesburg residents and ratepayers first by repairing and properly maintaining the infrastructure they pay for.
The ANC’s obvious failure to provide proper service delivery is a sign that voters should support the Freedom Front Plus in the upcoming municipal elections on 4 November to oust the ANC and incompetent officials.
