The Msukaligwa Local Municipality is calling on all residents, business owners, and interested stakeholders to attend the 7th Ordinary Council Meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, 28 May 2025 at 10:00, at the Council Chamber in the Civic Centre, Town Hall (Ermelo).
Two key matters will be on the agenda:
- The 2025/26 Municipal Budget
- The Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for 2025/26
This meeting follows weeks of growing public and political concern regarding the municipality’s financial direction and service delivery challenges.
At a recent community consultation hosted privately by local businessman Lakesh Maharaj, the absence of the Mayor, Mayoral Committee, and senior municipal officials led to frustration. DA Councillor JJ Scholtz stood in to present the draft budget, where residents expressed discontent over infrastructure failures and a lack of transparent governance.
Freedom Front Plus Councillor Shobie Arnoldi highlighted the dire financial forecast:
- Projected income: R1.326 billion
- Projected expenditure: R1.382 billion
- Deficit: R55.7 million
He described the budget as a "recipe for collapse" unless urgent interventions are implemented.
The Patriotic Alliance’s Lourens de Beer added that the budget and IDP documents lacked sufficient backup data, further criticizing alleged misuse of B-BBEE procurement to serve political affiliates instead of the broader community.
While members of the public may attend the meeting, it is important to note that they may only observe the proceedings and are not permitted to participate or raise questions during the session.
With critical decisions on the table that will impact every ward in Msukaligwa, public oversight is more important than ever.