(Budget debate on Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA))
During yesterday’s Budget debate for the Gauteng Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) warned that the province’s decline is exacerbated by unstable coalitions, a shortage of skills and a lack of funds.
These challenges undermine the effectiveness of the provincial budget, as highlighted in the Legislature’s COGTA Committee report.
Municipalities’ financial crises only make matters worse, with revenue collection stagnating due to illegal electricity connections, crumbling infrastructure and water losses of up to 40% due to leakages.
Unstable coalition governments create further uncertainty, leading to volatile management positions, administrative interference and budget shortfalls that consequently delay projects.
The province faces increasing financial pressure, with an expected negative cash balance in 2025/26 as a result of e-toll debt and adjustments concerning health. These constraints prevent municipalities from obtaining additional support.
In addition, the persistent lack of skills and professionalisation in municipalities remain a challenge, while COGTA’s efforts to provide technical support are hampered by insufficient funding to fill posts, particularly for women and people with disabilities.
The report acknowledges the decline of service delivery, with interventions needed for water, sanitation, electricity, housing and roads in underprivileged areas.
Urban decay, such as hijacked buildings and sewage in streets, reflects a wider national crisis of water and power outages.
The budget merely scratches the surface of Gauteng’s problems. Sustained, multi-year interventions, significantly more funding from national level and unwavering political will are required to put a stop to the systemic decline of local government.
FF+ Manifesto on Education reform: Improving the quality of education.
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Fun South African Fact: The first successful heart transplant was in a Cape Town hospital
Trip
The cab driver feels compelled to flesh the story out, as its just the husband he\’s talking to.
\”yeah I remember that last shore leave in Johannesburg, me and the lads gagging for some action, end up in a dive bar and met this girl, we got a room and she was the the worst fuck I\’ve ever had!\”
The wife says \”what did he say?\”.
Husband \”the cab driver he says he might know you!\”