Gauteng municipalities owed R165.7bn, says Maile

By Johnathan Paoli

Gauteng municipalities were owed R165.7 billion by residents, businesses and state entities by the end of December, the province’s treasury said on Sunday.

It also said that municipal councillors and officials collectively owed municipalities about R165.7 million as at 31 December 2025, with the largest balances in Johannesburg (R74.8 million), Tshwane (R36.2 million) and Ekurhuleni (R22.9 million).

Gauteng Finance and Economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile said formal correspondence had been issued to enforce recovery measures and ensure compliance.

He said households accounted for 73.3% of outstanding debt, commercial customers 23.2%, and organs of state 3%.

Weak implementation of credit control policies contributes to the growing debtor burden and constrains municipalities’ ability to meet obligations when they fall due, he said in a statement.

Municipalities also reported outstanding creditors of R37.9 billion as at 31 December 2025, down from R53.2 billion in November.

The City of Tshwane is