The FF Plus achieved a political victory on 22 June 2022, when the National Treasury concurred with the FF Plus that the Emfuleni Local Municipality (Evaton, Sebokeng, Vaal Oewer, Vanderbijlpark, Vereeniging) acted unconstitutionally by adopting the 2022/23 financial year’s budget on 31 May without a majority vote.
The ANC government approved the budget with a vote of 42 out of 90 councillors.
The FF Plus informed the Speaker, Sibongile Soxuza, immediately after the meeting that a mistake had been made and that the budget was unlawfully approved.
The National Treasury has now instructed the Speaker to convene another meeting during which the budget will be tabled again before 30 June.
If the majority does not vote for the budget, the city council must be dissolved in terms of the Constitution. By-elections will then take place within 90 days.
Another plus for the FF Plus is the Emfuleni Municipality’s admission that it failed to notify property owners of valuation increases in time.
The FF Plus pointed out to the Speaker that the process is unlawful and consequently, the notification process was extended by another month. The new valuation roll will come into effect on 31 July.
The FF Plus will not forsake its role as watchdog and allow the ANC government to act unlawfully.
The people of Emfuleni deserve better than the ANC.
Read the original article in Afrikaans by Gerda Senekal on FF Plus
