Klerksdorp – The City of Matlosana Council has approved an unfunded budget for the 2026/27 financial year, a move critics warn will deepen the municipality’s financial crisis and severely impact local service delivery.
The budget was pushed through by a coalition of the ANC, EFF, and PA, despite explicit warnings regarding the long-term consequences of passing a budget that lacks a credible financial recovery plan.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) strongly opposed the budget, highlighting the heavy financial burden it places on local ratepayers. DA Caucus Leader Gerhard Strydom expressed deep concern over the municipality’s high tariff structure, particularly regarding property rates.
Under the newly approved framework, effective 1 July 2026, a Matlosana resident with a property valued at R1 million will pay R1,371.16 per month in property rates.
The DA presented comparative data to illustrate the disparity with other regions:
- Matlosana: R1,371.16 per month
- Sandton: ~R440.41 per month
- Cape Town: ~R235.65 per month
“The DA could not support a budget that fails to address Matlosana’s growing financial crisis,” Strydom stated. “Instead, residents are being forced to carry an even heavier burden while receiving increasingly poor services in return.”
The opposition warns that an unfunded budget will trigger a domino effect across the municipality, leading to:
- Delayed maintenance on critical infrastructure.
- Further decline in basic service delivery.
- Residents paying significantly more for fewer services.
Beyond household finances, the high tariff structure is reportedly damaging the local economy. The DA noted that excessive rates are actively discouraging investment, driving businesses to look elsewhere, and stifling job creation and economic growth in the region.
With local government elections approaching on 4 November 2026, political friction in the council is peaking. The DA is using the budget fallout to urge residents to verify their voter registration details, positioning the upcoming election as a direct choice between ongoing financial mismanagement and accountable governance.
