Note to editors: Please find English and Afrikaans soundbites attached by Ina Cilliers MPL.
For over a year, residents of Merafong (Merafong billing chaos plunging residents into uncertainty and fear) have endured financial uncertainty and frustration as their municipal bills were estimated instead of accurately calculated. Ever since the termination of the previous billing system provider in December 2023, billing chaos has been the order of the day. Many residents have struggled to budget for household expenses due to these irregular practices, voicing their grievances and demanding accountability.
These calls have now been vindicated by the Auditor-General’s (AG) latest report, which confirms the systemic financial mismanagement that has plagued the municipality.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) caucus in Merafong has been tireless in advocating for these residents, consistently raising the alarm over inaccurate billing practices under the leadership of municipal manager Dumisani Mabuza. The AG’s report highlights how such governance failures have undermined public trust and service delivery (Merafong billing chaos plunging residents into uncertainty and fear).
According to the AG report, Merafong’s municipality recorded an alarming R818 million in irregular expenditure, with no steps to investigate or resolve these financial discrepancies. Additionally, R1.03 million was spent on consultants for work that was never completed—a flagrant misuse of resources that must be addressed immediately. This mismanagement has also resulted in significant unauthorised expenditures, further straining the municipality’s precarious financial position.
The DA in Merafong will continue to fight for accountability (Municipality owes province millions | Carletonville Herald) on behalf of residents. We will pose written questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature so that COGTA can disclose to residents what action they will be taking to ensure that Merafong recovers the misspent funds and to hold those officials responsible accountable.
The DA remains committed to serving the residents of Merafong by pushing for transparency, fiscal discipline, and the restoration of trust in local governance. We call on all stakeholders to join (Merafong Billing Chaos – register your complaint) in this mission, ensuring that accountability prevails and that Merafong’s residents receive the service and respect they deserve. If you have experienced billing issues, please log them by completing this form. We will continue to track and report billing problems.
A DA-led Gauteng provincial government will set up an audit response team dedicated to addressing the findings by the AG. Furthermore, this team will also create a detailed plan that includes timelines to address the current problems faced by Merafong and provide regular progress reports to the residents.