Joburg’s unfunded budget is a criminal act, says former mayor Herman Mashaba

Former Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba criticized the city's unfunded budget as a 'criminal act,' calling it illegal and warning it would worsen financial struggles ahead of the November 4 municipal elections. He accused current leadership of poor governance and vowed to revive stalled projects like the A Re Sebetseng clean-up campaign and Inner City Rejuvenation Programme if ActionSA wins." "article": "ActionSA’s mayoral candidate Herman Mashaba condemned Johannesburg’s unfunded budget during a campaign event in Alexandra on Wednesday, calling it 'illegal and a criminal act.' He accused the city’s leadership of approving spending plans without securing funding, stating that the budget would deepen financial troubles. Mashaba questioned why provincial authorities, Cogta, and National Treasury allowed the budget to proceed despite its lack of funding. The former mayor highlighted concerns over a R3.6 billion loan taken shortly before the budget was tabled, questioning how the city could repay debt while struggling to collect owed revenue. He linked Johannesburg’s financial crisis to poor governance, urging residents to vote in the November 4 municipal elections to demand change. Mashaba emphasized that voters hold the power to address service delivery failures, despite many communities feeling disillusioned. He outlined ActionSA’s plans to revive the A Re Sebetseng clean-up campaign and the Inner City Rejuvenation Programme, which aims to redevelop over 600 abandoned properties into affordable housing and jobs. The programme was paused after his 2019 mayoral exit, and he vowed to fast-track it if elected. The campaign visit to Alexandra aimed to educate voters on ActionSA’s priorities, including financial accountability and urban renewal. Mashaba stressed that proper financial management was essential to fulfilling budget promises, framing the election as a chance to restore Johannesburg’s stability.