MEYERTON, GAUTENG — Midvaal local Municipality Executive Mayor Peter Teixeira has officially greenlit a R41 million road budget and highlighted the region’s zero Eskom debt milestone during the recent State of the Municipality Address. Delivered on Thursday at the Meyerton Christian Church, the address emphasized the local government’s commitment to aggressive infrastructure development, strict financial discipline, and uninterrupted service delivery.
A Historic Investment in Transport Networks
A cornerstone of the municipality’s upcoming financial strategy is the massive injection of funds into local transport networks. Mayor Teixeira revealed that the newly approved R41 million road budget will focus on upgrading gravel roads and addressing existing infrastructure challenges.
This fresh capital builds upon a robust R190 million that the local government has already invested into road maintenance and development over the past five years.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the event, Teixeira was candid about the sheer scale of the work required. “It will never be enough for the road network that we have in Midvaal, but R41 million will be a good start for us,” the mayor stated. He noted that this allocation represents the most substantial road budget the municipality has ever compiled, specifically targeting the conversion of gravel routes into fully tarred roads to improve commuter safety and accessibility.
Expanding Electrification and Housing Initiatives
Parallel to the transport upgrades, the local government is accelerating its electrical and housing expansions. The administration recently completed a R20 million electrification project targeting extensions four and five of the Sicelo township.
Looking toward the new financial year, Teixeira confirmed that conditional grants will drive ongoing housing developments in Sicelo. Furthermore, the municipality is dedicating an additional R20 million to continue the electrification of Sicelo Extension 4.
The infrastructure push extends to Savannah City as well, where a massive substation project is currently underway. The mayor noted that completing this critical substation will require an investment of over R60 million in the upcoming financial year. Additionally, the local authority is collaborating with the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements to roll out a comprehensive informal settlements upgrade program.
Maintaining Financial Discipline in a Challenging Landscape
The State of the Municipality Address also drew a sharp financial contrast between Midvaal and its regional peers. While several other Gauteng municipalities recently appeared before the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC)—where it was revealed that they collectively owe Eskom and Rand Water a staggering R30 billion—Midvaal maintains absolutely zero debt to both utility providers. This financial health has paved the way for the region to achieve its 12th consecutive clean audit.
Navigating Credit Control and Resident Pushback
Despite these infrastructural and financial victories, the municipality is facing friction from some Sicelo residents regarding its strict credit control measures. For the past five years, the local authority has been deducting 60% from residents’ prepaid electricity purchases—a policy originally implemented after the community fell behind on paying rates and taxes.
Defending the measure, Teixeira framed it as a non-negotiable aspect of the local government’s financial policies. “That is part of our credit control and debt management policy that we implement very strictly,” Teixeira explained. “We are saying that if you have a genuine issue and you are in arrears with the municipality, come and talk to us. Let’s make a payment arrangement.”
However, community members continue to express frustration over the policy, pointing out that the directive strictly applies to registered property owners. This creates significant administrative hurdles for residents living in inherited homes who struggle to obtain the necessary letters of executorship to regularize their accounts.
Residents argue that the restricted power access is taking a severe toll on their daily lives and educational outcomes. “We have children who go to school, and most of the time we don’t have power. It really affects us,” one community member expressed, highlighting the human cost of the ongoing billing disputes.