During the budget debate of the Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) warned that the state of local government in parts of Gauteng can no longer be viewed as an ordinary management challenge. It is a full-scale crisis that requires urgent intervention.
Although the department acknowledges the challenges of political instability, poor governance, and administrative shortcomings, acknowledgement alone is not enough. Gauteng residents experience the consequences of mounting municipal debt, poor revenue collection, decaying infrastructure, water losses, poor audit outcomes, and inadequate service delivery on a daily basis.
Communities are tired of reports, plans, and promises. They demand safe and functional roads, a reliable water and electricity supply, clean environments, and municipalities that fulfil their constitutional responsibilities.
The Constitution does not merely obligate the provincial government to observe the decay of municipalities, but to actively offer support and intervene where municipalities fail to perform their duties.
As the former Freedom Front Plus leader and Minister of Correctional Services, Pieter Groenewald, often emphasizes, there comes a time when the government must stop making excuses and start “kicking butt” by enforcing discipline, accountability, and measurable results.
With the local government elections of 4 November 2026 just around the corner, voters are going to send a clear message that competent management, accountability, and service delivery are non-negotiable.
The Freedom Front Plus will continue to put pressure on the administration for strict oversight, consequence management, and sustainable solutions to get Gauteng’s municipalities back on track.
