The 2026/27 budget of the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality (Hibberdene, Margate, Port Edward, Port Shepstone, Southbroom) fails to prioritise residents’ interests while offering no viable solutions to the Municipality’s growing problems.
The budget is simply not sustainable. It projects a meagre 2,3% in revenue growth, while expenditure keeps rising sharply. Approximately 95% of all revenue generated through property rates is spent on salaries. Consequently, there is almost nothing left for service delivery and infrastructure maintenance.
Only R124 238 821 is budgeted for repairs and maintenance, which represents a mere 6% of the value of the Municipality’s property, plant and equipment.
This year’s total capital budget of R145 174 784 is also less than previous years’. Where previous budgets were backed by surplus funds exceeding R150 million, this budget has to make do with a surplus of only R57 million.
This is irresponsible and leaves the Municipality vulnerable to any unexpected challenges.
Residents are paying more and more, but get less and less in return. Roads keep crumbling, public spaces are neglected and basis service delivery is unreliable.
In spite of this, the Municipality appears to be more focused on maintaining a large administrative machine than on making tangible improvements for communities.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) believes a budget should be a genuine commitment to residents, not merely an accounting exercise.
This budget fails to:
- maintain municipal assets;
- spend taxpayers’ money responsibly;
- promote economic growth and job opportunities; and
- prioritise service delivery above administrative expenditure.
The party simply cannot endorse a budget that piles more pressure on residents, while not making any improvements to their daily lives. This is unfair to hard-working taxpayers who are already under severe financial strain.
Ray Nkonyeni residents deserve better than an ANC administration that turns a blind eye to their needs while their complaints fall on deaf ears.
On 4 November, residents have the opportunity to vote for the Freedom Front Plus, which is committed to safeguarding their needs and puts sound, responsible governance first.
Freedom Front Plus Disaster Management: The party advocates for effective disaster management strategies.
Mr. Spy
USA: You have two cows. You outsource a farm to milk them and sell the milk to those who can afford it. You then use the profit to buy someone else\’s cow for your butcher to make steak with.