Tsakani Maluleke’s report revealed R1.3 billion in unauthorised expenditures, R227 million in irregular expenditures, and R122.5 million in fruitless expenditures. 

DA Cllr Dirk Kotze blamed corruption and incompetence for the city’s decline, saying: “These funds should have gone to critical services, but they were wasted. Residents and businesses pay for services they never receive.”

Kotze cited the consequences: delayed or abandoned water and sanitation projects, pothole-riddled roads, unreliable waste collection, illegal dumping, and non-compliant landfill sites posing health risks.

Waste pickers at the Southern landfill recently told OFM News about threats and intimidation by undocumented immigrants from Lesotho, who allegedly control the area and engage in turf wars and drug sales.

Frequent water cuts due to aging infrastructure and poor maintenance have sparked widespread frustration. The metro blamed revenue collection issues for these failures.

At a council meeting on Friday (31/1), Mayor Gregory Nthatisi proposed insourcing services and creating a metro police unit to fight maladministration, corruption, and crime.

“Metro police will provide a lasting law enforcement presence, manage debt collection, regulate traders, and combat irregular activities,” said Nthatisi. “This is more sustainable than outsourcing.”

Kotze dismissed the plan, citing ongoing corruption in the metro police and transport departments.

Audit results for Dihlabeng remain unchanged after four consecutive years of poor financial performance. Despite meeting only 53% of infrastructure targets, 90% of the budget was spent.

Other concerns included:

• Unauthorised expenditure: R287.2 million.
• Irregular expenditure: R165.36 million.
• Procurement without competitive bidding: R10.89 million.
• Supply chain management non-compliance: R119.6 million.
• Employee-related non-compliance: R34.9 million.
• Fruitless and wasteful expenditure: R90.17 million.
• Municipal infrastructure grant funds unspent: R19.5 million.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi mvh