Battle for northern areas support
Premium
By Andisa Bonani - 15 July 2025
The battle for the northern areas begins on Wednesday, as residents of Ward 34 head to the polls for a by-election widely viewed as a litmus test ahead of the 2026 local government elections.
It will also be a test for the Patriotic Alliance (PA), which has been making inroads in coloured wards across SA...
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Mail & Guardian
3 hours ago
- Mail & Guardian
Ramaphosa says talks with US on tariffs ongoing as measures are delayed for seven days
President Cyril @CyrilRamaphosa/X President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed concern over the 30% tariff imposed by the US on South African exports, despite a seven-day reprieve from implementation of the measure which had been set to kick in on Friday. South Africa is among several countries facing punitive tariffs from the US as it moves to protect its own manufacturers and labour force. On Friday, Ramaphosa said his government was finalising a package to support companies that are vulnerable to the reciprocal tariffs, adding that the details would be announced 'in due course'. He said Pretoria had submitted a framework deal to Washington in an effort to strengthen 'mutually beneficial trade and investment ties'. 'South Africa and US trade relations are complementary in nature and South African exports do not pose a threat to US industry. Importantly, SA exports to the US contain inputs from the African continent and contribute to intra-Africa trade,' he said. Ramaphosa said his government would pursue all diplomatic avenues to safeguard the country's national interests. 'It is important that, as a country, we keep our people at work and our companies producing some of the high-quality products destined for many parts of the world.' Trump's administration claims that a lack of reciprocity in trade relations has eroded the US's manufacturing base, disrupted supply chains and weakened its defence industrial base. Earlier this week, Department of Trade, Industry and Competition said South Africa It has set up an export support desk as part of a diversification strategy 'to create resilience' in the economy. The desk is collaborating with export councils, industry associations and major exporters to the US to assist in accessing alternative markets. 'We also want to reiterate that we have no intention of decoupling from the United States either. Our view is that negotiations remain the best tool to deal with the issues that are on the table,' it said. Pretoria is still waiting for a response from Washington on its proposed framework deal, which includes substantial trade and investment incentives. These include the import of between 750 and Other elements include the import of US blueberries and a commitment by South Africa to invest $3.3 billion in US industries such as mining, metals recycling, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals and The deal includes exemptions from reciprocal tariffs in key sectors, including shipbuilding, counter-seasonal agriculture and exports by micro, small and medium enterprises with annual exports of less than $1 million. The trade department said it had been in 'intense negotiations' with the US and had signed a condition precedent document, with inputs ready for inclusion in a template expected from Washington. 'Despite the challenges that have been presented by this period, we have put our best foot forward, bringing together the subject specialists within our ranks that have dug deep to ensure that our country is adequately prepared for a number of potential scenarios,' it said.


Daily Maverick
4 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Emfuleni crisis highlights local government debt as Treasury cracks the whip
The closure of the Emfuleni Local Municipality offices due to unpaid rent highlights the local government debt crisis, something Treasury hopes to fix by withholding grants from defaulting municipalities. Residents of Emfuleni were unable to make payments or lodge enquiries at the municipality's Vanderbijlpark offices this week after they were locked due to the failure to pay the monthly R6.4-million rent. According to the DA's Emfuleni caucus leader, Duncan Mthembu, this is a 'powerful symbol' of a nationwide crisis of municipal dysfunction and ballooning debt. Freedom Front Plus Councillor Hein van der Lith said the property owner had closed the building, which has more than 100 offices, twice previously this year and three times in 2024. He said the closure follows a recent recommendation from the Gauteng Legislature's Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) to place the troubled municipality under administration. Emfuleni was recently identified by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana as one of 39 municipalities that have persistently failed to pay water boards and other parties such as pension funds, medical aids, SARS, the Auditor-General, and continues to adopt unfunded budgets. The minister said he would suspend all grants to the 39 municipalities for the rest of the financial year due to their ongoing failures. The DA's Mthembu said the closure of the Emfuleni offices meant 'residents have been left confused and stuck on how to proceed in getting assistance with payments and enquiries'. Emfuleni is located in Gauteng and comprises areas such as Vanderbijlpark. Mthembu said this was 'nothing more but an abject failure in governance, and something as simple as communication. The municipality could not even inform residents of their offices' closure.' Account attached Emfuleni's problems have been compounded by Rand Water's decision to attach the municipality's bank account due to its R1.7-billion unpaid debt. Emfuleni Municipality spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni denied that the municipality had failed to honour its payment agreement with Rand Water, describing it as 'arbitrary'. Emfuleni Finance MMC Hassan Mako said, 'The municipality is unable to access its bank account because Rand Water has attached the account, and this situation has persisted for two months.' He said the municipality had considered taking the matter to court, but the mayor refused. Mako said the municipality had formed a special purpose vehicle (SPV) with Rand Water that would manage the water and sanitation services. 'However, Rand Water seems to be more focused on delaying the launch process by continuously attaching the municipality's accounts,' said Mako. 'The SPV project requires R1.3-billion, while Rand Water is owed R1.7-billion. Nevertheless, the municipality has committed to servicing the debt in tranches so that other service providers can be paid,' said Mako. Describing the impact of having its bank account attached, Mako said, 'There is no diesel to pick up refuse. Contractors that were assisting us with cleaning illegal dumps are not paid and have left the sites. When offices are closed, it means workers are paid salaries for doing nothing, and municipal infrastructure projects are suffering.' Emfuleni also owes Eskom R8.5-billion as at the end of June 2025. 'We believe the municipality is being held ransom by Rand Water, which negatively impacts service delivery. As a collective, we urge the mayor to lead by allowing this matter to be resolved in court in the best interest of service delivery,' Mako added. Emfuleni's municipal debt came under the spotlight in a letter from Godongwana to Cogta Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa on the ongoing crisis in municipalities. Gondongwana cracks whip on debt-ridden municipalities At the end of June, Godongwana informed Hlabisa that he would invoke Section 216(2) of the Constitution against the 39 most dysfunctional municipalities for 'persistent non-compliance'. This section allows the National Treasury to stop the transfer of funds to an organ of state if it commits a 'serious or persistent material breach' of measures designed to ensure transparency and expenditure control. According to Godongwana, Treasury has outlined a strict mechanism to force compliance: if any of the 18 defaulting municipalities fail to provide proof of full payment to their respective water boards within seven days of the 30 June letter, their Local Government Equitable Share (LGES) will be stopped. This withheld equitable share will only be released in portions, with stringent conditions. The first portion must be strictly used to pay current water board accounts, with proof of payment required, before a second amount is released for arrears owed under a valid repayment arrangement. According to the letter from Godongwana, if these conditions were not met, or if evidence of payments to institutions such as SARS, pension funds and other statutory third parties is not submitted, Treasury would approach Parliament to endorse the stopping of all LGES transfers for the rest of the 2025/26 municipal financial year. Municipal financial years run from 1 July to 30 June. Treasury also plans to withhold conditional infrastructure transfers. 'It is advisable that, parallel to the LGES withholding process, Rand Water, Vaal Central, Lepelle Northern, and Magalies Water enforce their credit control policies to also attach the bank accounts of the defaulting municipalities to enforce a change in behaviour of these municipalities. The same applies to all the water boards, in order to avoid a similar situation and prevent escalating debt across water boards,' said Godongwana. Earlier this year, Hlabisa told Daily Maverick the national government was sending a message to municipalities that 'it is time to pay'. During his 2025 departmental budget vote debate speech, the Cogta minister said: 'We have concurred with Treasury to compel the payments for water boards and Eskom, and pay pension and medical aid contributions to third parties. Notably, the same principle will have to apply to all government departments who owe municipalities, they must be compelled to pay what is due to municipalities.' Municipalities across the country owe Eskom almost R110-billion. Writing in Business Live, Municipal IQ managing director Kevin Allan said the local government debt crisis was caused by poor governance, a lack of oversight, and weak administrative capacity. 'The suspension of grants, therefore, represents the Treasury's move from carrot to stick. But this approach is not without risk. Service interruptions, project delays and cash flow constraints may follow in affected municipalities. Residents could bear the brunt of deteriorating services, and protest action may escalate,' said Allan. He described Treasury's decision as 'both bold and necessary'. 'The stakes are enormous. Without intervention, the escalating debt spiral could not only collapse local government, but destabilise national service delivery and weaken the country's fiscal standing,' Allan continued. 'Above all, municipalities must get back to basics. They must adopt funded budgets, bill accurately, collect revenue diligently and prioritise creditor payments. Professionalising financial management, insulating administration from politics and enforcing accountability are not optional – they are essential. DM


The Citizen
6 hours ago
- The Citizen
uMngeni councillor murder: Traditional leader uncle among 5 arrested
A suspect accused of killing the late uMngeni municipal councillor Nhlalayenza Ndlovu was his uncle. According to Zululand Observer, Ndlovu was gunned down at his Masosheni home near Mpophomeni in December 2023. The uncle (56), who is an iNkosi (a Zulu word for 'chief'), was arrested on Wednesday and appeared alongside a 34-year-old accomplice in the Howick Magistrate's Court yesterday. The arrest by the SAPS Political Killings Task Team brings the total number of suspects to five. The matter has been postponed to next Friday for a formal bail application. DA leader Francois Rodgers said the iNkosi is allegedly implicated in a separate case involving the murder of his cousin. 'While the DA welcomes the progress in this case, we remain deeply disappointed by the delays in the arrests. The information that ultimately led to the arrests was already available to the authorities by the DA's independent legal team, yet it was disregarded,' said Rodgers. 'The disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has further weakened the state's ability to address politically motivated crimes. 'The presence of senior SAPS intelligence officials during court proceedings only deepens concerns about whether our intelligence structures are being used effectively and impartially in such politically sensitive matters.' Cogta MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi commended the SAPS on the arrest, saying it was a 'significant breakthrough'. Buthelezi praised the task team for their diligent work, which led to this progress and the arrest of more suspects. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on