Grandi Theunissen FF Plus leader in Tshwane
By Cllr. Grandi Theunissen
Tshwane Freedom Front Plus leader
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) rejects the Tshwane Metro’s draft budget for the 2025/26 financial year, which will subject residents to excessive taxes, unfair levies and questionable financial practices.
This budget prioritises revenue generation over ethical governance, ignores economic realities and fails to ensure financial fairness.
The Freedom Front Plus does not support the draft budget for the following reasons:
•Unfair property valuations and exorbitant taxes
The general property valuation roll reflects an average property value increase of 24,17%, significantly raising tax obligations.
The Metro claims it mitigated the impact by reducing the rate by 4% and increasing the threshold value from R150 000 to R250 000, but this offers little to no relief.
With a target of R11,19 billion in property tax revenue a 10% increase from the previous year this hike far exceeds inflation and economic growth projections.
Some homeowners face valuation increases of 30% to 300%, with no substantial tax relief.
The South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA) and AfriForum have lodged objections to it, reinforcing the Freedom Front Plus’s view that this budget sets unrealistic revenue targets and is unfair to homeowners.
Unfair and controversial city cleansing levy for residents and businesses using private waste removal services.
This levy compels them to pay for a service the Metro does not provide to them.
This constitutes double taxation and violates the Municipal Financial Management Act (MFMA), which stipulates that municipal levies must reflect actual service usage.
The party demands that the cleansing levy be scrapped.
Infrastructure decay and service delivery failures
While the Metro increases taxes and imposes new levies, its infrastructure is decaying.
Roads and water pipes are in a terrible condition, and power networks regularly fail.
Frequent power and water outages are not just an inconvenience, but a severe financial burden crippling businesses and hindering economic growth.
The Freedom Front Plus condemns the Metro’s failure to invest in infrastructure maintenance and demands urgent intervention to prevent further decay.
The Metro’s procurement policy, based on Black Economic Empowerment (BEE),results in exorbitant costs, increasing fruitless expenditure and depleting public funds.
Many contracts are awarded at inflated prices, benefiting a select few rather than ensuring quality service delivery.
The Freedom Front Plus demands urgent procurement reform prioritising transparency, cost-effectiveness and responsible financial management.
The Metro claims this budget is fully funded, but it hinges on questionable sources of revenue.
Should property valuations drop or the city cleansing levy be successfully challenged, the Tshwane Metro will be forced to:
•Reduce excessive expenditure to offset lost revenue.
•Explore alternative, lawful revenue sources instead of imposing exorbitant taxes.
•Reform financial policies to comply with constitutional requirements.
Fairness, accountability and financial justice should prevail.
The Freedom Front Plus rejects the 2025/26 financial year’s budget.
Moreover, the party calls on the Council to make responsible decisions and protect Tshwane residents’ interests.