MEYERTON, GAUTENG — Midvaal Local Municipality Executive Mayor Peter Teixeira has unveiled a comprehensive R41 million road infrastructure budget and highlighted the region’s zero debt to Eskom and Rand Water during his recent State of the Municipality Address. Delivered on Thursday at the Meyerton Christian Church, the address underscored the municipality’s commitment to service delivery, financial discipline, and continuous development, culminating in its 12th consecutive clean audit.
Historic Investment in Road Networks
A major focal point of the address was the substantial investment in local transport networks. Mayor Teixeira announced that the R41 million allocated for the upcoming financial year will build upon the R190 million already invested in road infrastructure over the past five years.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Teixeira acknowledged the ongoing needs of the area’s expanding network. “It will never be enough for the road network that we have in Midvaal, but R41 million will be a good start for us,” he stated. He noted that this represents the largest road budget the municipality has ever assembled, specifically designed to address current challenges and upgrade new roads currently still in gravel condition.
Electrification and Housing Expansions
Beyond roads, the municipality is aggressively expanding its electrical and housing infrastructure. The administration recently completed a R20 million electrification project for extensions four and five of the Sicelo township.
Looking ahead, Teixeira confirmed that conditional grants will support ongoing housing projects in Sicelo. Furthermore, the municipality is continuing the electrification of Sicelo Extension 4 with an additional R20 million dedicated to electricity infrastructure. A similar investment is planned for Savannah City, which includes a massive substation project requiring over R60 million for completion in the new financial year.
Navigating Debt Management and Resident Concerns
Despite these infrastructural strides, the municipality faces pushback from some Sicelo residents regarding its strict credit control measures. For the past five years, the municipality has deducted 60% from residents’ prepaid electricity purchases—a policy implemented after the community fell behind on paying rates and taxes.
Addressing the concerns, Teixeira defended the measure as a necessary component of the municipality’s financial policies. “That is part of our credit control and debt management policy that we implement very strictly,” Teixeira explained. “We are saying that if you have a genuine issue and you are in arrears with the municipality, come and talk to us. Let’s make a payment arrangement.”
However, residents continue to bemoan the policy, noting that the directive strictly applies to registered homeowners. They highlighted administrative hurdles, such as the difficulty in obtaining letters of executorship for properties where the original owners have passed away.
“We have children who go to school, and most of the time we don’t have power. It really affects us,” one resident expressed, emphasizing the daily impact of the restricted power access on local families.
Financial Discipline Sets Midvaal Apart
The State of the Municipality Address also drew a sharp contrast between Midvaal and other regional councils. While several Gauteng municipalities recently appeared before the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)—where it was revealed that they collectively owe Eskom and Rand Water over R30 billion—Midvaal prides itself on carrying absolutely zero debt to both utility giants.
To further support community development and address living conditions, the municipality is also planning a rollout of an informal settlements upgrade program in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements.