- Tshwane is contradicting itself on its salary bill.
- Critical water vacancies remain unfilled.
- The DA demands a credible, fully funded budget.
The City of Tshwane is contradicting itself over the true cost of its salary bill and must now provide the evidence to prove that its budget is genuinely funded.
In one breath, the City told journalists that it was still busy unpacking its personnel and using the July 2026 payroll as a baseline to establish a more accurate picture to explain the reported R1.9b under budgeted amount.
In the next breath, the City issued a media statement claiming that there is no indication that it will be unable to meet its salary obligations.
The City cannot simultaneously say that it is still determining its actual personnel cost position and claim that it has already established that there is no material risk to its ability to meet payroll.
So, which is it?
Does Tshwane know what its actual personnel cost requirement is, or is it still trying to determine it?
The ANC Government should also answer whether they adequately budgeted to fill vacancies in the city’s water department, since the city is now reporting 48% water losses and has thousands of water leaks outstanding.
City reports has previously acknowledged that critical vacant positions related to water demand and water-loss management must be filled urgently. The same document states that addressing critical staffing shortages is necessary to successfully implement water-loss reduction initiatives.
This is not a theoretical issue, Tshwane is facing critical water shortages, the ANC Government is shifting responsibility over to residents while they continue to prioritise water in tankers and not water in taps.
As referenced from our Manifesto 2026, if elected, we will get water flowing by reinvesting water revenue into infrastructure and bringing in private sector investment and expertise.
We insist that the City of Tshwane quantify the city’s reported R1.9b salary bill shortage, backed with facts not media spin and that the ANC Government brings a budget that will ensure all employees are budgeted for and critical vacancies in the water department is prioritized.