For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines: DA welcomes former FF+ caucus leader to its ranks; CDE report says Joburg budget is ‘disconnected from reality’; And, Transnet puts Carlton Centre, golf courses up for sale alongside 12 other properties

DA welcomes former FF+ caucus leader to its ranks

The DA today welcomed to its ranks former Freedom Front Plus Tshwane Caucus Leader Grandi Theunissen, a move that DA Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink said bodes well for the blue party.

Theunissen, a former FF+ regional chairperson for Tshwane, said he hopes to make a positive contribution to the DA and to the metro.

He pointed to shared values and interests between himself and DA Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink, also noting strong bonds of friendship.

Brink said Theunissen’s move to the DA was significant for Tshwane residents.

CDE report says Joburg budget is ‘disconnected from reality

With unpaid bills owed to the City of Johannesburg rising from about R15-billion in 2014/15 to nearly R72-billion in 2024/25, the Centre for Development and Enterprise cautions that the City’s budget is “increasingly disconnected from reality”.

In the second issue of the independent think tank’s new report series, ‘Johannesburg Matters: Fixing South Africa’s growth engine’, the CDE warns that the City is falling into a dangerous financial spiral.

It noted the non-payment of rates and utility bills by residents, amid the City’s lack of service delivery and failing infrastructure, and stressed that the municipality’s financial situation was more serious than just a budget deficit.

The CDE noted that the City spends money it does not collect, imposing ever-higher costs on a shrinking rates base and stagnant economy, while squeezing infrastructure investment and turning its suppliers into de facto lenders.

CDE executive director Ann Bernstein explained that the City registers its bills to residents and businesses as revenue, assuming that it can catch up.

And, Transnet puts Carlton Centre, golf courses up for sale alongside 12 other properties

State-owned rail operator Transnet has invited requests for proposals for 15 noncore properties, including the Carlton Centre, in Johannesburg; the Bloemfontein Golf Course, in the Free State; the Avion Park Golf Course, in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng; and the Umlazi Mall Megacity, in KwaZulu-Natal, among others.

National departments, provincial departments, municipalities, State-owned companies and other public entities are afforded the first right of refusal to express an interest in acquiring, using, leasing, or otherwise taking transfer of the said properties for public sector purposes.

Interested public entities must indicate the intended public use or purpose of the properties and confirmation of budgetary provision and/or funding availability.

Should no formal interest be received from any government department, State-owned company or qualifying public entity within the 30-day period, Transnet will issue a public RFP to the open market for interested private sector parties, Transnet said in the August 24 Government Gazette.

Meanwhile, in addition to the properties mentioned above, Transnet has also placed four properties in Cape Town up for sale.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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