The MEC for Finance in Gauteng, Nkululeko Dunga, said the department is unveiling the budget under growing service delivery pressures and a budget under strain as they have R788.4 million for the 2026/27 financial year.
Speaking to media at the Gauteng Legislature, MEC Dunga said the provincial government has paid more than R13 billion towards the e-toll debt.
“Following the June 2026 installment payment, the outstanding balance now stands at R6.17 billion,” he said.
To strengthen the finances of local municipalities, MEC Dunga stated that the department will have more ‘intervention’ in assisting struggling councils.
Responding to Mapepeza’s question on the R7 billion Eskom debt owed by the City of Ekurhuleni including the water disruptions in Sedibeng and West Rand, MEC Dunga said they have a capable Municipal Finance Unit that is helping Municipalities report on their finances. He acknowledged that when Municipalities fail financially, the effects are immediate and severe.
“Communities experience service delivery failures, infrastructure deteriorates, businesses lose confidence and economic growth slows,” Dunga stated.
Concluding on the municipal finance outlook, MEC Dunga said the department must urgently appoint the Deputy-Director for Municipal Financial Governance, saying the position is ‘central to driving oversight, coordination and decisive intervention in municipal finances across the province.’
Apart from playing a more active role in municipal issues, Dunga conceded that Metros (Ekurhuleni, Joburg and Tshwane) report their financial status with the National Treasury and only Sedibeng and West Rand municipalities report to the Province. He explained that the way municipalities are financed and their dependacy on grants must be looked into.
Allocations from the Budget Vote
- Provincial Supply Chain Management business unit: R118 million.
- Financial Governance business unit: R142 million
- Gauteng Audit Services business unit: R145 million
- Sustainable Fiscal Resource Management business unit: R107 million
- Municipal Finance Governance business unit: R78 million
MEC Dunga said on June 29, the department will host a memorial service and awareness event at Thembisa Hospital to honor the late financial officials who lost their lives in becoming whistleblowers and reporting corruption within government.
“Among those we will honour are Babita Deokaran, Mpho Mafole, Martha Mani Rantsofu and Simnikiwe Mapini,” MEC Dunga said.
