This week, the National Treasury (NT) warned the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging) to pay outstanding staff pension fund contributions within seven days to avoid further action.
Emfuleni is one of 39 municipalities in the country guilty of the malpractice of failing to pay staff pension fund contributions.
In Emfuleni’s case, the Municipality has withheld over R6,5 million in pension fund contributions, keeping the funds in its own coffers instead of transferring them to the relevant fund.
Additionally, the NT also warned Emfuleni to settle its historical debt of R1,7 billion with Rand Water.
Should Emfuleni fail to comply, the national government will withhold its equitable share for the remainder of the 2025/26 financial year.
The NT’s drastic steps against Emfuleni come as no surprise to the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) seeing as the Municipality is an utter failure.
Not even four years under the Gauteng provincial government’s administration has made any positive difference.
Eskom and Rand Water have repeatedly attached the Municipality’s accounts, causing residents to pay their outstanding electricity and water bills directly to the bulk suppliers.
The Freedom Front Plus will keep pressuring the Municipality to pay the outstanding contributions so that officials do not forfeit their pension fund benefits.
The mismanagement of the Emfuleni Local Municipality has to stop. It is an utter disgrace that the Municipality is not only failing to provide basic services to its residents, but is also misappropriating staff pension fund contributions.
The only way to stop the mismanagement is to oust the ANC government at the polls.
Freedom Front Plus Public Engagement: The party actively engages in public debates and forums on national issues.
Little Cobra
Fun South African Fact: Water is not all there is to drink in this thirsty country! South Africa’s Cape Winelands have around 560 wineries and 4 400 primary producers. Included in the Cape Winelands region is Route 62, considered the longest wine route in the world. That alone is good reason to visit South Africa if you haven’t yet been!
Captain Peroxide
Shebeen – an unlicensed bar [sha-been] These are unlicensed bars usually found in low-income suburbs located outside of the major towns and cities, more commonly known as ‘the townships’.