The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) rejected the Polokwane Local Municipality’s draft budget for the 2025/26 financial year as it does not prioritise maintenance.
As it is, the residents of Polokwane/Pietersburg will once again have to bear the financial burden while the Municipality fails to deliver basic services.
Certain residents’ outstanding debt, some overdue for more than three years, amounts to a staggering R2,1 billion. These funds are vital for the maintenance budget.
Delays in upgrading old water pipelines and infrastructure contribute to significant water losses, increased maintenance costs and frequent service disruptions.
It is also critical to have a structured plan to locate water pipes and valves.
In Fauna Park, residents were affected by water shortages for weeks. The Freedom Front Plus worked with the Municipality’s team to try and resolve the water crisis, only to discover that the team had no idea where the pipeline was. Hours were wasted on trying to locate it.
New water meters urgently need to be installed in large areas to address the problem of bypassed meters, which is the root cause of the current loss of revenue.
Electricity remains a key source of municipal revenue. Residents are expected to be satisfied with pitch-dark streets and an unsafe environment, while they have to pay a tariff increase of up to 11,32%. In addition, the Municipality does not have a streetlight maintenance plan nor a budget for it.
Polokwane residents have no choice but to pay 6% more for refuse removal, while living in a city where streets, pavements and parks are littered with rubbish.
Illegal dumping sites are not adequately addressed and municipal by-laws exist only on paper.
The proposed tariff increases will place an additional financial burden on households and businesses, but will not resolve the challenges with service delivery and infrastructure maintenance.
To establish a strong foundation for economic growth in Polokwane, maintenance and service delivery need to be prioritised and focused on.
This is currently not the case.
