The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) cannot support the proposed 2026/27 budget and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) of the Dr Beyers Naudé Local Municipality due to fundamental shortcomings that undermine the legitimacy of the process, jeopardise financial sustainability and are detrimental to residents.
The Municipality’s own mid-year reports and audit findings already reveal a pattern of financial mismanagement, irregular expenditure and poor record-keeping.
These deep-rooted problems are not addressed by the new budget or the IDP. So, the most pressing crises are ignored and the documents offer no credible plan for improvement.
The process is, furthermore, deeply flawed. There was no meaningful engagement with residents, while some towns and communities were not given any opportunity to make submissions. Consequently, the IDP does not reflect the people’s actual priorities. In addition, the requirements for notice periods and disclosing documentation were not complied with, raising serious questions about the lawfulness of the entire process.
At service-delivery level, important projects from previous IDPs show little or no progress.
Water meter replacements, sewerage systems, road repairs and waste management remain in a critical state. Residents in towns such as Willowmore, Steytlerville and Jansenville are still affected by frequent water outages and rapidly deteriorating infrastructure.
When it comes to financial management, funds are not used effectively and there is no clear plan for stabilising the Municipality’s position. Important supporting documentation and progress reports were also not disclosed to the public in time, further undermining transparency.
These municipal failures have serious implications for residents, including critical health risks (as hazardous asbestos roofs in Lotusville remain unaddressed), poor economic development and decaying basic infrastructure.
The budget and IDP do not serve the community’s interests and are not financially sustainable.
On 4 November, residents have the opportunity to vote for the Freedom Front Plus, which prioritises sustainable finances, lawful processes and service delivery.
FF+ Manifesto on E-governance: Improving government services through technology.
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Fun South African Fact: Three different destinations make up South Africa’s capital cities. This is to represent the South African government being divided into three sections. Cape Town is the legislative capital, Pretoria is the administrative capital and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital. Interestingly, Parliament meetings take place for six months in Cape Town and six months in Pretoria.