The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) will not allow the ANC to pressure the party into supporting a new Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for water and sanitation in the Emfuleni Local Municipality without full disclosure to councillors.
The SPV is a separate legal entity established to manage a specific service – in this case, water and sanitation. It can facilitate financing, but it also changes the Municipality’s control and financial risk.
The Freedom Front Plus endorses a sustainable solution to Emfuleni’s water crisis, but transparency and financial accountability are crucial.
The party tentatively expressed support for the idea in November 2025, provided there are clear timelines, progress reports and strict oversight.
A new administration contract was tabled to the Council on Wednesday. The SPV is now being restructured from a private company to a state-controlled entity with a 75/25 shareholding (Rand Water/Emfuleni) without any explanation as to why.
The Freedom Front Plus demands clarity on:
• what Emfuleni’s 25% share actually means and what control the Municipality retains;
• who carries the R1,2 billion risk and how much of it comes from Emfuleni’s allocations;
• how much will actually be available for infrastructure and maintenance;
• what obligations it will place on future budgets;
• how much debt is written off and on what conditions; and
• the composition of the board and how decisions will be made.
Emfuleni cannot release public funds without complete transparency.
The Freedom Front Plus will not vote against a solution, but neither will it vote blindly for a structure if its implications have not been explained.
Emfuleni residents deserve water, sanitation and accountable governance – not political impulsiveness.
