By: Kholofelo Mokoena
The City of Tshwane’s 2026/27 Budget was officially tabled before a special Council sitting on Thursday at Tshwane House, sparking sharp divisions in the Chamber as opposition parties raised formal objections while others backed the fiscal plan.
Deputy Executive Mayor and MMC for Finance, Cllr Eugene Modise, delivered the budget under the theme: From Recovery to Renewal, Building a Better Tshwane, outlining a second fully funded framework aimed at sustaining the City’s turnaround strategy.
While some members in the Council Chamber expressed support for the budget, others raised concerns by submitting documents outlining their demands. Despite the divided reception, the budget presentation proceeded as planned.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), Fredoom Front Plus (VF+) and other parts raising their concerns
Photo credit: Kholofelo Mokoena
Modise unveiled what he described as a fully funded fiscal framework aimed at strengthening service delivery, improving financial stability, and ensuring municipal resources are effectively directed toward residents, businesses, and communities across the capital.
“We truly appreciate your presence here, actually you are the most important instrument in ensuring that we communicate with our residents effectively. Our budget today mean we are not going to buy what we can not chew, so we have allocated 57 billion Rands and the other significant components of this budget speech is 1.4 billion,” stated Eugene Modise, Deputy executive mayor and MMC for Finance
Meanwhile, ActionSA also expressed reservations, calling for greater transparency in revenue allocation and more concrete timelines for infrastructure projects.
“National Treasury has identified Tshwane as the leading municipalities in the country in terms of reform implementation and fiscal recovery progress,” said ActionSA Tshwane Caucus spokesperson Cllr Henriette Frohlich.
In contrast, the ANC welcomed the budget, describing it as a credible step toward financial recovery. The EFF and IFP also indicated their satisfaction with the plan, particularly its focus on social services and community well-being. The DA and VF+ did not approve the budget, raising their concerns by submitting formal documents outlining their demands.
The DA’s Tshwane Caucus Leader, Cilliers Brink, believed that the budget lacked as much credibility as the person who delivered it.
Chief Financial Officer Nthabiseng Mokete joined Modise in briefing the media following the sitting. Together, they outlined six key priority areas: financial stability and revenue enhancement; economic revitalisation and investment attraction; infrastructure development and accelerated service delivery; a safe and clean city; social services and community well-being; and strengthening governance and customer care.
CFO -Nthabiseng Mokete, Deputy executive mayor and MMC for Finance- Eugene Modise
Photo credit: Sithabile Nsele
The budget now moves to implementation, with the City promising regular progress reports to restore public confidence and financial credibility.
