Tshwane Budget May Be Legally Disputed

RESIDENTS of Tshwane who have been shocked by new fixed charges for water and sanitation could see the city’s R37 billion budget being challenged.

Civil society groups and political parties allege that the city’s administrator Mpho Nawa exceeded his powers when he approved the budget that was implemented on July 1 and at least two groups are preparing court applications to have it reviewed and set aside.

This comes amid the background of a leadership vacuum with no council, no mayor and not even a permanent city manager at the helm.

A court hearing next week could however steer matters in a different direction.

Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Urban Planning and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Lebogang Maile intervened in Tshwane earlier this year, after consecutive council meetings ended in chaos. He deployed a group of administrators under the leadership of Nawa, in terms of s. 139 of the