During the latest meeting of the Tshwane Metro Council, the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) rejected the report by the Department of Roads and Transport requesting the write-off of capital assets worth R101 million.
Such a decision would mean that taxpayers’ money is officially declared lost – an admission of failure that further undermines the Metro’s financial stability and deprives residents of much-needed infrastructure.
The problem of so-called ghost assets is no secret. The Freedom Front Plus warned, as far back as 2022, that there is no proper record keeping for assets under construction, which were started with taxpayers’ money but never completed or taken into use.
These projects are of no value or service to residents, yet remain on the books for years, creating a false impression of capital assets.
In 2023, a list of 2 435 open projects with an estimated value of R12,78 billion came to light. The latest report covers only 539 projects in one Department, valued at R2,62 billion – clear proof that the scale of the crisis is far greater than currently acknowledged.
Even the Executive Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, admitted in 2025 that projects are often started without proper planning, feasibility studies or budget certainty. Yet the current report demonstrates there are still no consequences for poor management.
The Department attempts to shift the blame to consultants, while officials who spent R101 million on projects that never realised are protected.
Such conduct is an insult to Tshwane residents and a textbook example of fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
The Freedom Front Plus does not serve on the Council to investigate consultants, but to oversee officials who manage taxpayers’ money. By protecting officials, the Metro fails its residents and undermines the principle of accountability.
The Freedom Front Plus will not allow a financial risk of R2,6 billion to be swept under the carpet and has formally recorded its negative vote to show that the era of unaccountable spending is over.
Residents deserve a metro that is responsibly governed – not one that offers excuses while billions simply disappear.
