The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) is deeply concerned about the Ekurhuleni Metro’s budget deficit of R2 billion for the first quarter of the 2025 financial year.
The deficit is mainly caused by poor collection of electricity fees and officials’ rampant manipulation of bills. This is the direct result of poor management, inadequate internal control and a lack of proper supervision.
Offences include making unauthorised changes to account balances, erasing outstanding debt records and removing payment obligations from the Metro’s billing system.
Such illegal practices rob the Metro of crucial funds and put additional pressure on loyal taxpayers.
Such illegal practices rob the Metro of crucial funds and put additional pressure on loyal taxpayers.
The Freedom Front Plus takes note of the steps already taken by the Metro: suspending two officials in the IT Department and issuing warrants for the arrest of other offenders.
The Freedom Front Plus demands that the following action be taken at once:
• An independent, external forensic investigation into all municipal billing systems and revenue collection processes to determine the extent of the manipulation and identify all perpetrators.
• The immediate suspension of officials and service providers implicated in the scandal.
• Steps to recover the stolen funds and correct manipulated accounts.
Strict access control measures should be implemented to prevent manipulation of municipal databases in the future.
The Mayor, Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, and City Manager, Dr Imogen Mashazi, should also provide frequent public reports on the progress made with investigations and remedial action to restore the public’s faith in the Metro.
The Freedom Front Plus will continue to hold the Metro’s leadership accountable and will not rest until every stolen sent is recovered.
The time for making excuses is over – decisive action is needed.
