The City of Tshwane Council approved its 2026/27 Budget on May 28, following a heated debate at the Ordinary Council Meeting held at Tshwane House.
Proceedings were chaired by Speaker of Council Cllr Mncedi Ndzwanana. The session began at 10:00 with a debate on the budget speech delivered by Cllr Eugene Modise on May 21, followed by the formal council sitting later in the afternoon.
The debate focused on key strategic documents for the new financial year, including the 2026/27 Medium-Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework (MTREF) and the review of the 2022–2026 Integrated Development Plan (IDP).
Opposition parties strongly criticised the proposed budget.
Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor Jacky Uys accused the administration of being distracted by internal political battles.
“This administration is so caught up in a fight for power and positions that it has become consumed with propaganda phrases like ‘funded budget’. That just shows how removed they are from the realities our residents face every day,” said Uys.
Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) councillor Mark Surgeon described the budget as “out of touch with reality”, arguing that it failed to adequately address Tshwane’s ongoing service delivery challenges and focused on short-term objectives rather than sustainable governance.
Opposition councillors also criticised Executive Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya for not personally delivering the original budget speech on May 21, alleging she was attempting to distance herself from the financial decisions.
In response, Mayor Moya thanked residents who participated in public consultations on the budget and IDP.
“On behalf of this dynamic coalition, we thank the people of Tshwane who participated when we took the budget and IDP to communities,” she said.
The mayor also announced that R36 million would be allocated to insource security guards — an initiative not included in the original May 21 budget speech.
Despite opposition objections, the council adopted what it described as an equitable and inclusive 2026/27 Budget.
According to the Office of the Deputy Executive Mayor and MMC for Finance, the approved budget marks the second fully funded budget tabled and adopted under the Multiparty Coalition Government. The budget has also been endorsed by National Treasury as compliant with the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).
The MMC for Finance stated that the fully funded status confirms the City’s projected revenue is sufficient to cover both operational and capital commitments over the medium term, while protecting financial stability.
The 2026/27 Budget prioritises:
- Water and electricity infrastructure upgrades and stabilisation
- Roads, transport and stormwater infrastructure
- Waste management and environmental improvements
- Human settlements and community development
- Public safety and asset protection
- Economic revitalisation and investment attraction
- Strengthening internal capacity and reducing reliance on contracted services
The MMC added that the budget reflects input received during extensive public participation processes and aims to strengthen fiscal discipline, modernise infrastructure and improve long-term financial sustainability.
The council meeting ultimately centred on whether the budget adequately addresses Tshwane’s service delivery challenges, with coalition parties defending it as financially responsible and forward-looking, while opposition parties maintained it falls short of residents’ expectations.
