Archive photo of a protest against poor service delivery in Johannesburg. (Photo: Marco Longari/AFP)
According to the FF Plus, the proposed R89.4 billion budget for the Johannesburg metro will not do enough to curb the city’s growing debt burden and dilapidated infrastructure.
Franco de Lange, FF Plus councilor in the Johannesburg metro council, warned Dada Morero, the metro’s mayor, that Johannesburg’s financial challenges and deteriorating infrastructure will further complicate service delivery to residents and taxpayers if urgent action is not taken.
According to De Lange, the metro currently has an outstanding debt of around R72 billion and an infrastructure maintenance backlog of around R220 billion.
“These are not problems that can be overcome with cosmetic solutions. Johannesburg’s infrastructure has been decaying for years while the metro’s debt burden continues to grow. It requires decisive intervention and responsible financial management if the city is to be put back on track.”
The Johannesburg Metro Council is due to consider the proposed budget for the 2026-27 financial year next week. According to De Lange, the budget consists of about R81 billion for operating expenses and only R7.5 billion for capital expenses.
‘Budget does not tackle infrastructure crisis’
De Lange believes the proposed capital budget is completely inadequate given the extent of Johannesburg’s infrastructure challenges.
One of the many potholes on Johannesburg’s roads. (Photo: Yusuf Abramjee/X)
“The proposed capital expenditure of R7.5 billion does not come close to tackling the metro’s extensive infrastructure challenges and maintenance needs. The metro’s infrastructure is deteriorating faster than it is being repaired and residents live with the consequences on a daily basis.”
According to De Lange, the metro should act actively to recover outstanding debts, especially in areas where collection rates remain low.
“The FF Plus proposed that the metro collect at least 20% of the outstanding R72 billion debt. This includes parts of Soweto where collection rates remain problematic.
“Without effective debt collection, the metro will not have enough financial space to properly repair and maintain infrastructure.”
He says the party also believes that operating expenses must be drastically reduced.
“Operating expenses should be reduced by around R10 billion through better financial discipline, better control measures and greater efficiency. If this is done, around R24.4 billion can already be made available in the next financial year for infrastructure maintenance and renewal.”
‘Taxpayers are being let down’
De Lange says residents and taxpayers are already experiencing the direct consequences of the metro’s deteriorating infrastructure.
“Repaired potholes often reappear within a short time because the repair work is carried out poorly. Traffic lights and street lighting are not continuously maintained, while continuous power cuts are still part of many communities’ daily life.”
Traffic lights in Johannesburg (Photo: Sipho Ndebele/ Unsplash)
According to him, these problems point directly back to the metro’s massive maintenance backlog.
“The maintenance backlog of R220 billion has built up over many years and is still growing. Taxpayers are paying for infrastructure and services that are simply not properly maintained.
“It is unacceptable that residents continue to pay while service delivery further deteriorates.”
De Lange believes that the ANC-led administration must urgently review its priorities.
“It is time for the ANC-led administration to put the needs of Johannesburg’s residents and taxpayers first by properly repairing and maintaining the infrastructure that taxpayers pay for.”
Unemployment continues to be a major challenge
De Lange also responded to Morero’s announcement that around 23,000 new jobs were created by an economic growth rate of 1% in Johannesburg.
Although the FF Plus welcomes job creation, the party believes it remains insufficient given the metro’s unemployment rate of 34.7% and population of around 6.2 million people.
“Any job creation is positive, but the reality is that Johannesburg is still under tremendous economic pressure. An unemployment rate of 34.7% clearly shows that much stronger economic growth and better management are needed to really improve residents’ lives,” says De Lange.