A Self-Congratulatory Budget Speech That Neglects the Needs of the Poor

ActionSA vehemently rejects the Budget by the Finance MMC, Clir Loyiso Masuku that offers nothing new to the residents of Joburg. Today’s 97.4 billion budget is far from addressing the lived experience of the downtrodden and the center class.

The 2026/27 budget continues to prioritise service delivery and infrastructure investment commitments that have been repeatedly made in previous budgets. Yet across Johannesburg, communities are still experiencing water interruptions and sewer spillages.

Residents face frequent electricity disruptions Roads are deteriorating, and waste collection remains inconsistent, this demonstrates not a lack of planning, but a failure of execution. ActionSA therefore views this budget as another repetition of commitments without consequence for non-delivery.

ActionSA has warned the city about its reckless financial management coupled with unjustified loans which exacerbate the city’s financial woes.

This was reaffirmed by the finance minister Enoch Godongwana who not in many wards, cautioned the city of finance mismanagement. ActionSA will never be party to self-congratulatory budget speech that neglect the needs of the poor

ActionSA supports targeted relief for vulnerable residents. However, many qualifying households remain excluded due to bureaucratic barriers.

Economic hardship has deepened significantly while youth unemployment remains unacceptably high, and all these did not find expression in the Finance MMC’s speech. ActionSA believes the city must move beyond rhetoric and ensure a simplified access to indigent support and expanded employment programmes with real outcomes

ActionSA has in the past presented pragmatic solution for the viable city and financial stable administration, but as the norm with the current administration, our proposal has been disregarded.

We have categorically state that any budget that will not address the following issues will not be entertained:

• Removal of the electricity surcharge
• Insourcing of Security officials and cleaners
• Robust city rejuvenation plan
• Present sound and effective revenue collection plan
• Informal traders and the local economy
• Restoring the rule of law

The City of Johannesburg’s infrastructure is deteriorating at an alarming rate, yet there appears to be insufficient urgency to address this crisis. The city is grappling with a severe water crisis, and faces an infrastructure backlog exceeding R27 billion, while the entity continues to be underfunded.

While progress has been made on the inner-city rejuvenation, we strongly believe this project must be prioritised in the city’s budget. If implemented with precision, the city has the potential to generate much-needed revenue through the reclamation of hijacked buildings.

This budget failed yet again to address the major expenditure within the city; we have in the past warned the city to address the employee costs, bulk purchases especially electricity and contracted services.

As a result, we continue calling for:

Fast-track the Institutional Review: The city’s continued failure to complete its institutional review and eliminate overlapping municipal entities has caused unnecessary waste, duplicated work, and serious gaps in accountability. ActionSA strongly believes that some entities must be abolished and merged to avoid wasteful expenditure. Control Unsustainable Personnel Costs such as staff costs that consume bulk oof the budget.

ActionSA remain committed to the concept of fixing the City of Johannesburg, the city that will prioritise the residents, restore the rule of law and address illegal immigration. We are rejecting this budget based on principles as opposed to political gimmicks.

ActionSA Social Justice: Advocates for “Social Justice” over traditional BEE.