Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Eric Motloung and Afrikaans soundbite by Cllr Marius Marais
The Democratic Alliance (DA) Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality (TMDM) will formally request that Council reject the current draft Staff Establishment and mandate the submission of a fully costed, merit-based alternative aligned to service delivery priorities before the May 2026 budget is adopted.
Poor planning and unchecked spending in this area have real consequences for communities. When too much of the budget is spent on salaries without proper planning, it diverts funds from road repairs, infrastructure maintenance, and ensuring reliable basic services. The result is a growing gap between what residents need and what the municipality delivers.
The DA notes the tabling of Annexure D, the draft 2026/2027 Staff Establishment, at the March 2026 Council meeting, but finds the report wholly inadequate, consisting largely of vague organograms and bullet points with minimal substance.
Key concerns include:
- TMDM’s personnel costs have escalated to over 60% of total operating expenditure, far exceeding sustainable benchmarks, and crowding out funding for essential services such as water, sanitation, roads and local economic development.
- The report contains no credible financial costing; the “Financial Implications” section is limited to the words “Salary Payment”.
- Risk analysis is superficial, citing only a “Shortage of Staff” without a proper risk register, defined consequences, or mitigation measures.
- Approximately 20 critical posts, including two Directors, a Risk Manager and key technical roles, have remained vacant for years, with no accompanying skills audit or service delivery justification.
The DA cannot support this poorly motivated document and calls on all Council parties to reject it and work together to develop and adopt a revised staff establishment that is transparent, affordable, and aligned with the district municipality’s core mandate.
We will continue to advocate for a comprehensive review that directly links staffing to measurable service delivery outcomes and to budget sustainability.
Residents of Thabo Mofutsanyana deserve accountable governance, not empty reports and an unsustainable wage bill that fails to prioritise their needs.