Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Paul Kotzé and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Kabelo Moreeng.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will oppose and rigorously interrogate Mangaung’s proposed tariff increases, using every available oversight mechanism in Council to demand full accountability for why residents are being asked to pay more. At the same time, the municipality continues to fail in spending public funds effectively.
Mangaung residents are once again confronted with unjustified tariff increases in a municipality that cannot utilise its existing budget to deliver reliable basic services. At a time when households are under severe financial pressure, the ANC-led administration expects residents to pay higher rates and service charges, even as underspending, delayed projects, crumbling infrastructure, and poor financial discipline persist. This disconnect between what residents pay and what they receive is at the core of the crisis.
Mangaung does not have a revenue problem; it has a governance problem. When infrastructure budgets are not spent properly, projects are delayed or abandoned, and essential assets such as roads, water networks and sanitation systems are neglected, increased tariffs do not lead to improved services. Instead, they deepen the burden on residents while service delivery continues to deteriorate.
The consequences are visible across the metro in pothole-ridden roads, frequent water interruptions, sewer spillages and declining maintenance standards. Residents are effectively paying more for unreliable, inconsistent, and, in many cases, failing services.
This failure has far-reaching consequences beyond household frustration. Poor infrastructure and unreliable services discourage investment, strain existing businesses, and limit job creation and economic opportunity. When basic services fail, public safety is compromised as well, as broken infrastructure and poor lighting create environments where crime can flourish.
At the same time, weak financial management and a lack of consequence management create fertile ground for maladministration and corruption, further diverting resources away from service delivery.
While the DA currently serves in opposition in Mangaung, we will intensify oversight to ensure that every proposed tariff increase is justified against measurable service delivery outcomes and credible spending performance.
We will demand transparent reporting on capital expenditure, infrastructure rollout, maintenance backlogs and departmental accountability. When entrusted with governance, the DA will prioritise disciplined budgeting, enforce consequence management, and ensure that every rand collected is used to deliver tangible service improvements.
Mangaung residents must not be treated as an endless source of revenue for a failing system. Until this administration demonstrates its ability to manage finances responsibly, maintain infrastructure and deliver reliable services, these tariff increases remain unjustified.
The DA will continue to fight for fairness, accountability and a municipality that delivers real value to its residents.