Of the total allocation, R183m is designated to strengthen administrative capacity, while R75.3m is set aside for traditional institutional management. Stakeholders heard this at the budget vote speech on Wednesday (5/5) at Dr Cingo Secondary School in Maokeng, Kroonstad.

Cogta and human settlements MEC Saki Mokoena, who declared 2026 the year to fix local government and make the economy work, said while R5m is allocated to build residences for two principal traditional leaders, further engagement with the Treasury is required to fully fund the new traditional handbook mandate.

Local governance support receives a portion of the budget, totalling R132m. Within this, R22m is budgeted for municipal service delivery in areas such as Mafube and Maluti-a-Phofung, while R20m is allocated to the Section 154 support programme, which includes the Xhariep district.

The department further highlighted no municipality in the province achieved a clean audit for the 2024/2025 financial year. However, according to Mokoena, efforts are being intensified to move the districts Fezile Dabi and Thabo Mofutsanyana, from unqualified to clean audit statuses.

He said the Community Works Programme is a priority, providing 19,500 job opportunities across the province.

“The auditor general has given yet another negative verdict on the performance of the municipalities in our province, and it is not a good reflection,” said Mokoena.

The department has also set the Municipal Infrastructure Grant to improve local services. Official plans show this money is split between key needs: 29% for water, 28% for toilets and sewage, and 24% for roads.

Various authorities weighed in on the department’s direction in the budget vote debate. FF Plus MPL Armand Cloete raised concerns regarding accountability during the session. “One law after another is broken, (and) municipal officials are not held accountable.”

FF Plus MPL Armand Cloete raised concerns regarding accountability during the session. Photo: Free State Legislature

He further argued current municipal challenges are the result of small-scale violations over decades where laws were broken without repercussion, leading to a state where unwanted expenses are not investigated, and residents pay more for non-existent services.

OFM News/Refilwe Bekane dg

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