The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) is seriously questioning the priorities of the Mbombela Local Municipality after approval was sought for the Executive Mayor, Mr Wiseman Khumalo, the Municipal Manager and senior officials to attend the World Water Week conference in Singapore from 15 to 19 June 2026.
All while Mbombela’s own taps are running dry.
According to the documentation tabled at a special council meeting, the trip will cost approximately R312 000 for only two delegates. This includes registration, return business class flights and six nights’ accommodation. The expense is to be paid from the capacity-building budget of the Technical Services Department.
While the Municipality spends exorbitant amounts on international travel, residents – especially in Hazyview – are still plagued by serious water problems.
Replies to written questions from the Freedom Front Plus indicate that Hazyview experienced average water losses of 68% over the past twelve months, with some months as high as 79%, while Mbombela’s overall losses stand at 38%.
These water losses cost the Municipality approximately R37,9 million for the period. The money could have been put to much better use by repairing leakages and upgrading ageing infrastructure.
The Freedom Front Plus has, since July 2025, repeatedly expressed concern over senior officials and political leaders’ regular attendance of international water seminars in countries such as Japan, the Netherlands, Kenya and Sweden.
Although council resolutions require feedback reports to be tabled to the Council after such visits, to date, not a single report indicating what was learned and how it will be applied to resolve Mbombela’s water challenges has been submitted.
In the Freedom Front Plus’s view, the Municipality’s first priority should be repairing and maintaining water infrastructure, not attending expensive overseas conferences.
Residents have the right to reliable water supply and responsible management of their tax money.
Every available rand should be used to reduce water losses and improve service delivery, rather than chasing political and administrative prestige abroad.
The Freedom Front Plus will keep demanding transparency and accountability.
With the local government elections 4 November 2026, residents have the opportunity to vote for the Freedom Front Plus, which prioritises service delivery and infrastructure over needless expenses.
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