The City of Tshwane has approved its 2025/26 budget, allocating R1.4 billion to critical upgrades for water and electricity infrastructure. The budget, passed this week, marks the first fully funded financial plan adopted by the multiparty coalition government since its formation last year.
Tshwane Mayor Dr. Nasiphi Moya emphasized the focus on service delivery, particularly in historically underserved areas. ANC spokesperson Bafuze Yabo hailed the budget as a milestone, stating it reverses years of unfunded spending and neglect.
A “Pro-Poor” Budget
Yabo described the budget as prioritizing townships and marginalized communities, addressing long-standing issues like water shortages, sewage spills, and failing electrical infrastructure. The capital budget of R2.4 billion aims to build new infrastructure in areas lacking basic services.
Coalition Consensus
Despite being a balancing act, Yabo asserted that the coalition reached consensus, with the ANC ensuring its pro-poor agenda was reflected. However, trade-offs were made, including a new levy and cuts to waste management funding, which Yabo attributed to national austerity measures and the need to prioritize urgent sanitation and infrastructure projects.
Mixed Reactions
While the budget raises the indigent threshold to support low-income households, middle-class residents expressed concerns over being overlooked. Yabo acknowledged the challenge but defended the focus on “the poorest of the poor,” while noting efforts to include affluent areas in economic development plans.
With local elections approaching, the coalition hopes the budget will demonstrate its commitment to equitable service delivery. Critics, however, question whether the compromises will yield tangible improvements.