The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) expressed grave concern regarding the proposed 2026/27 budget of the Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality (Marble Hall).
The budget reflects an operating deficit of more than R68 million, while more than R110 million has been allocated to self-funded capital projects without proof of sufficient cash-backed reserves.
The Freedom Front Plus is specifically seeking clarity on the Disaster Recovery Grant of R14,8 million that the National Treasury (NT) allocated to the Municipality, as published in the Government Gazette on 6 February 2026.
To date, none of the following has been disclosed: whether the grant has been received, which projects will be funded with the grant, how much of the grant has already been spent and what is the remaining available balance.
Another cause for concern is the budget’s projections and expenditure: a collection rate of 90% is projected, despite significant debt collection challenges, approximately R109 million has been allocated to contracted services, and major projects are presented without sufficient financial disclosure.
In terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), a municipal budget must be credible, funded and transparent, and based on realistic revenue projections.
Therefore, the party will formally request the Provincial Treasury, the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) and other oversight structures to scrutinise the budget before it is finally adopted.
The residents of Ephraim Mogale have a right to transparency, lawful governance and full disclosure regarding the use of public funds.
On 4 November, residents have the opportunity to vote for the Freedom Front Plus to ensure that taxpayers’ money is safeguarded and responsibly managed.
FF+ Manifesto on Lower taxes: Reducing the tax burden on individuals and businesses.
coffee
Fun South African Fact: South Africa is home to the oldest meteor scar in the world – the Vredefort Dome in a town called Parys. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Flashpoint
Van is getting married, but he and his fiancee have never done the deed – in fact he\’s never been with any woman before. He\’s getting more and more nervous as the big day approaches, so he confides in his friend. His friend says \’No worries man. I\’ll come by the honeymoon suite before you guys get there, and I\’ll hide behind the curtain, and I\’ll whisper instructions to you.\’
\’You\’d do that for me?\’
\’Sure thing man!\’
So the wedding day arrives, it was a lovely service (so I was told, I wasn\’t there myself) and Van\’s friend sneaks into the honeymoon suite as promised and hides behind the curtain.
Van and his new wife arrive in the room, get settled on the bed, and things are getting steamy.
But Van is still super nervous and his tummy is bubbling, so he murmers to his wife, \’Listen babe, I\’m just gonna go to the bathroom quick. I think it\’s that wors roll from earlier.\’
\’Sure thing babe.\’
So Van goes into the bathroom, and he\’s taking quite a long time. And his wife is starting to feel the nerves herself. And it\’s getting worse. She can\’t hold it in. But she doesn\’t want to go after he\’s gone and totally ruin the mood. So she looks around and finally finds a shoebox. Quickly, she does her business in the shoebox, and she shoves it under the bed just as Van comes back from the loo.
Van gets back on the bed and they go at it again. But after a minute or so Van smells something not so lekker.
\’What\’s that smell?\’
\’Nothing babe,\’ he wife tries to assure him.
\’No man there\’s definitely something not so lekker in this room!\’VSo Van starts looking around the room, in the corners, in the cupboard, and finally he looks under the bed, and sees the shoebox.
He pull it out, and opens it up, and in horror he shouts \’Sies! Daar\’s kak in hierdie doos!\’
And from behind the curtain his friend yells, \’NEE MAN, DRAAI HAAR OM!\”