The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) condemns the decision of the Mbombela Local Municipality (Nelspruit, Hazyview, White River, Barberton) to send two additional delegates to the 2025 World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden, with taxpayers footing the bill.
Mbombela’s water service provider, Silulumanzi, invited the Executive Mayor, Sibongile Makushe-Mazibuko, and the Municipal Manager, Mr Wiseman Khumalo, to attend the event at its expense.
In a step violating Mbombela’s financial constraints, the ANC used its majority in the Council to approve funding for two additional delegates at the Municipality’s expense.
This decision comes at a time when Mbombela is facing a budget crisis with creditors owing more than R2 billion. This includes debts of the Department of Public Works and Transport (R110,6 million), clinics (R31 million) and schools (R10,3 million).
The Freedom Front Plus believes that the Mayor and Municipal Manager should stand back and focus on addressing the Municipality’s challenges, and delegate the invitation to two relevant or qualified officials instead.
Instead, the ANC has once again prioritised political preference over service delivery and fiscal responsibility.
Over the past 36 months, not a single report was tabled to the Council outlining the tangible benefits or improvements in municipal governance brought about by overseas trips.
The Freedom Front Plus demands a comprehensive report on why previous decisions regarding travel accountability have not been implemented, and that disciplinary action be taken against those responsible.
The party remains committed to holding the Municipality accountable and ensuring that public funds are used for residents’ benefit, not to subsidise political excursions.
