By Simon Nare
Johannesburg deputy executive mayor Loyiso Masuku has tabled the city’s R90 billion mid-term budget, flagging serious weaknesses in three core trading services while insisting it still provides space for financial recovery.
Tabling the budget on Wednesday during a council sitting, Masuku — who also serves as Joburg’s MMC for finance — said electricity, water and sanitation, and waste management, which are expected to generate significant revenue, have been undermined by structural and operational challenges.
She cited split accountability, declining revenue collection, underinvestment in capital infrastructure, governance failures and institutional fatigue as key drivers of the decline.
“Non-revenue water losses exceed 40%. Electricity distribution losses stand at 27%. The combined infrastructure renewal backlog across Johannesburg Water, City Power and the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) exceeds R185 billion,” she said.
“Without meaningful institutional reform, capital investment alone cannot achieve sustainable service delivery.”
Masuku tabled the 2026/27 budget as follows:
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