The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) will not be coerced into supporting the Ekurhuleni Metro’s budget, which the party already rejected.
The Freedom Front Plus indicated during a council meeting on Thursday, 31 May, that it would not support the 2025/26 financial year’s budget, which was adopted in May this year.
The budget was tabled to the Council again for final approval as the tariffs adopted during the budgeting process will now be levied.
The party does, however, support the abolition of the A2 tariff of R109, which primarily affects homeowners and was initially included in the budget. The money had been earmarked for electricity supply and maintenance of the power system.
Tembisa residents objected to it and the Mayor, Mr Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, undertook to scrap it.
The party supports the abolition of this charge, as it should never have been included in the budget in the first place. It was strategically withheld from residents during the public participation process.
The Freedom Front Plus voted against the original budget in May for several reasons, including excessive tariff hikes, poor planning and an absolute lack of meaningful public participation.
The ANC/EFF coalition’s expectation that everyone should align with the majority is unacceptable and politically opportunistic.
The people of Ekurhuleni have had enough of budgets creeping in through the back door. They deserve transparency. They deserve an opportunity to provide input. They deserve budgets free of surprises and political manipulation.
The Freedom Front Plus will keep taking a stand against the abuse of power. The party will keep insisting that budget processes are lawful, transparent and fair; and it will not remain silent when the public’s trust is trampled.
The party will continue to advocate for the rights of Ekurhuleni’s residents.
