This is according to the DA's Mangaung caucus leader and councillor, Johan Pretorius. 

During Wednesday's budget meeting, Pretorius said the draft budget that was presented by the intervention team, together with the administration and metro mayor, Mxolisi Siyonzana, remains unfunded with unrealistic tariffs, and still does not enable good basic service delivery. 

He said that Siyonzana treated councillors and metro residents with extreme disrespect by giving alternative figures during his speech, attempting to create a perception that their suggestions were incorporated, whilst the actual budget draft document remained unchanged from the first one. 

Pretorius also said in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), there could be two more opportunities to pass the budget before the end of June 2022, and failure to do so would lead to the council being dissolved.

Meanwhile, the African Alliance of Social Democrats' (AASD), Lucky Mongale, voiced his frustration with the metro's budget "that is inconsiderate of inputs of the councillors of other political parties and Mangaung residents."

"There was a whippery meeting. There was a decision. People turned against that decision. That shows arrogance at its highest form of people that say they want to work with us on behalf of the people of Mangaung but they seem not to be willing to work with us. The issue here is trust! 

"On Monday there was a multi-party meeting, where parties were present. They made their submissions and their submissions are not seen," concluded Mongale.

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