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In October 2024, our multi-party coalition government promised the residents of Tshwane that financial sustainability was a priority. The draft budget for 2026/27, approved for public comment at Council on Thursday, 26 March 2026, demonstrates delivery on that promise.

Tshwane has been paying off the multi-billion Rand debts that the previous DA-led administration owed to Eskom and Rand Water. Even while we’re still paying off these historic debts, we are also still achieving and maintaining a fully funded budget. This means we are being very responsible with our residents’ purses.

The budget for next year proposes a more than R200 million reduction in contracted services, including a 79% (R126,7 million) reduction in the spending on water tankering services. These savings, achieved through better controls and insourcing, allow us to mitigate some of the high Eskom increases.

By reducing spending – reducing water tanker costs, by reducing our reliance on external contractors, and by reducing operating costs wherever possible - we are making savings for our residents.

Savings are also being ploughed back into bigger and better capital investments that secure and stabilise our electricity and water networks, ensure more streetlights work and that potholes are fixed faster.

The City is tabling an operating revenue of R57.1 billion for next year. This represents a 6.9% increase against the 2025/26 adjustment budget. The operating expenditure of R55.6 billion will result in an operating surplus of R1.4 billion for the 2026/27 financial year, ensuring that the fully funded budget status is maintained. 

Spending on water supply and sanitation infrastructure is planned to increase by 13% and 15%, respectively. This means more investment is directed toward maintaining and upgrading critical infrastructure. Consequently, the capital budget for 2026/27 is increasing to R2.86 billion. 

As residents will see from this draft budget, Tshwane is rising. The improving balance sheet of South Africa’s Capital City proves that this is true.

Issued by GOOD City of Tshwane Councillor Sarah Mabotsa