EKURHULENI, GAUTENG — The long-awaited Ekurhuleni R70-billion budget has officially been adopted, marking a strategic triumph for the Democratic Alliance (DA) following weeks of intense political stalemate. By leveraging its pivotal position in the hung council, the opposition party successfully extracted critical policy concessions from the African National Congress (ANC), a move they argue ultimately saved the municipality from the threat of provincial intervention and administration.
Breaking the Legislative Deadlock
The adoption of the municipal budget came only after three previous failed voting attempts and prolonged political wrangling. According to DA Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, the initial impasse stemmed from the ANC’s reluctance to accept the new political reality established during the 2021 local government elections.
Rasilingwane explained that the ruling party initially drafted the fiscal plan without adequately consulting other political voices, operating under the mistaken assumption that they still commanded an outright majority in the metropolitan council. It was only when the DA utilized its leverage to force meaningful, resident-focused reforms that the deadlock was broken on the fourth attempt.
Compromises on Property Rates and Service Delivery
At the heart of the DA’s negotiation strategy was a focus on resident affordability and grassroots service delivery. One of the most significant breakthroughs involved municipal property rates. The ANC’s original draft proposed a 2% hike, while the DA fiercely advocated for a 1% increase. The two parties ultimately settled on a compromise of 1.5%, which the DA notes remains one of the most competitive rates in the country.
Furthermore, the DA secured a commitment to combat the municipality’s severe cable theft crisis, which has heavily disrupted power supplies for local businesses and households. The agreement includes the establishment of a specialized electricity unit dedicated to eradicating infrastructure theft—a move deemed critical as the city heads into the high-consumption winter season.
Curbing Official Luxury Spending
In a push for greater fiscal accountability, the DA successfully negotiated a freeze on the lavish spending habits of senior municipal officials. Rasilingwane highlighted that the revised budget halts the procurement of luxury vehicles and “blue light” perks for the city’s top brass.
Instead of subsidizing the lifestyles of a connected few, the DA insists that these redirected funds will be channeled directly into vital service delivery projects. This includes aggressive programs to repair potholes, maintain aging water infrastructure, and stabilize the local power grid to prevent the systemic service delivery collapse that residents have endured for years.
Strict Oversight Without Political Positions
Notably, the DA emphasized that their negotiation tactics were entirely policy-driven. Unlike other political entities in coalition dynamics, the DA did not demand Mayoral Committee (MMC) portfolios or political appointments in exchange for their support.
“Our fight was ensuring that we have a budget that will serve the residents of Ekurhuleni,” Rasilingwane stated, clarifying that the party’s objectives were strictly tied to civic improvement rather than political gain.
Moving forward, the DA plans to enforce these newly agreed-upon reforms through rigorous legislative oversight. Rasilingwane confirmed that the party’s caucus councilors will closely monitor the executive’s execution of the budget. By continuously asking critical questions and auditing municipal spending, the opposition intends to ensure that the R70-billion allocation is spent exclusively on uplifting the city’s residents and infrastructure.