Middelburg – The Steve Tshwete municipality has shown a rise in its financial planning initiatives to boost its infrastructure budget for the 2025/2026 fiscal year.
This year the municipality boosted its budget for capital projects, dedicating R64.1 million to fuel a variety of infrastructure initiatives designed to strengthen service delivery throughout the municipality. This is a rise of R16,4 million from the previous year.
This unfolded during the State of the Municipal Address (SoMA) held at the Sydney Choma Banquet Hall on Friday morning, 29 August 2025, in the administrative capital of Nkangala region, Middelburg.
Mayor Mhlonishwa Masilela announced an investment of R24,5 million set to upgrade the water treatment facilities in Vaalbank, Komati, and Blinkpan while R3 million is earmarked for upgrading the pump stations, and R5,5 million dedicated to replacing outdated water infrastructure and laying down a brand new water line.
“But that’s not all!,” he said. “We’re also allocating R3,5 million for drilling boreholes, while R9,8 million will be invested in installing high mast lights across various wards to brighten our communities. Plus, R11 million will be directed toward constructing new roads and upgrading our stormwater systems.”
In addition, R3 million will support the expansion of landfill sites, and R3,8 million is planned for the installation of biological latrines. “This investment shows our commitment to improving the quality of life in our communities.”
The municipality is aiming to raise R2,8 billion to support its revenue budget, which will be funded through service charges and government grants where operational expenditures are projected at R383,9 million, while capital investments will amount to R189.6 million.
Revenue sources indicate that property rates are expected to bring in R677,7 million, followed by R1,1 billion from electricity. Water and sanitation will account for R142,5 million and R115,3 million respectively, with an additional R131,1 million generated from refuse removal services.
Masilela also revealed that one of the municipality’s stakeholders, Seriti mine has “allocated R300 million” for the development of the Arnot Water Treatment facility.
The SoMA was unveiled just three days after the municipal council on Tuesday, 26 August, decided to reject a forensic report that outlined serious concerns at the defunct Mhluzi High Voltage Intake Substation.
During an interview, Masilela appeared somewhat indifferent about delving deeper into the issue. “The situation has been resolved since the council took a decision that the report is incomplete,” he stated in response to a question about the next steps.
However, this reply did not resonate well with local residents. “There’s an urgent need for clarity regarding what happened; we must establish accountability and uncover the full extent of the waste. I’m among those who are looking for answers,” expressed Thabo Skhosana, a resident of Chromeville.
Another community member, Mooi Masango from Extension 24, emphasised the importance of transparency. “We deserve to know what actions the municipality plans to take against those found accountable in the report,” he stated.
Other residents provided a variety of perspectives on the SoMA, capturing their diverse opinions.
Themba Magagula, chairperson of the Unemployed United Front (UUF), chimed in, asserting that he had expected the municipality to take a proactive role in fostering job creation initiatives. He warned that without such support, unemployment will remain a persistent challenge. “Real investment in local small businesses is vital for opening up new job possibilities,” he noted.
“Moreover, the housing project at Rondebosch lacks adequate water, sewage, and electricity connections. We should reflect on our shortcomings, particularly the responsibility of the municipality’s leadership. The provision of services in Ward 06 is severely lacking, marked by issues such as blocked sewers and interruptions in water supply.”
Xolani Nxumalo, leader of KwaZamokuhle and the Hendrina Concerned Residents, expressed low faith in the SoMA commitments. “Since the mayor took office, none of the initiatives have reached completion or provided real advantages to our local community. The few projects they might point to as finished were actually executed by contractors outside of Steve Tshwete,” he remarked.
