Municipalities Spend Millions on Farewell Banquets as Communities Lack Basic Services
Local authorities nationwide have spent hundreds of millions of rand bidding farewell to councillors at the end of their five-year term, while communities still lack basic services such as water, electricity, and tarred roads. The spending spree on flashy halls, pricey catering, sound systems, gifts, decorations, washdowns, mouth-watering food, and expensive booze has sparked heated debate in Limpopo and beyond.
Mopani and Greater Tzaneen Praise Outgoing Leaders
The Citizen attended several events where jubilation was the order of the day. Mopani District Municipality Executive Mayor Dagma Mamanyoha commended the group of outgoing councillors who served from 1 November 2021 to 1 November 2026.
You worked with determination, dedication and commitment in your communities. You walked the walk and talked the talk. Maybe it is time for you to look at the journey you walked from 2021 to date and reflect on the changes that you made to the lives of ordinary people and their communities.
Mamanyoha said to thunderous applause.
Two weeks ago, Mayor Odas Ngobeni of the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality shared identical sentiments alongside MEC Pule Shayi from Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs.
We have come a long way. We must praise ourselves for the beautiful work we have done for our communities since 2021. If we come back after the polls in November, we must go back to our people and work even harder. You all deserve praise for the work that you have done – changing lives,
Ngobeni said to councillors, managers, trade unions, and traditional leaders in attendance.
Salga Calls for Responsible Municipal Spending
Ledile Molope, the Provincial Director of Operations for the South African Local Government Association (Salga), stated that the organisation stays dedicated to aiding municipalities through policy guidance, knowledge sharing, capacity-building, and encouraging good governance. As councillors conclude their term, Molope said Salga encourages reflection on ethical leadership, transparency, and accountability.
Municipal resources must be managed responsibly, and decisions must always prioritise the interests of communities. Strong oversight, meaningful public participation and constructive relationships between political and administrative leadership remain essential to building public confidence and ensuring that municipalities fulfil their developmental mandate,
she said.
Critics Condemn Wasteful Expenditure on Banquets
Many who spoke to The Citizen criticised the banquets.
These shindigs are unwanted. They are wasteful, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure of taxpayers’ money,
said Forum for Limpopo Entrepreneurs (FOLE) provincial secretary Siviko Mabunda.
Our community streets resemble the aftermath of a war. Millions still live in mud or makeshift houses, children still go to school barefoot, our parents in far-flung villages still use firewood to cook and fountain water to drink. This happens when councillors, entrusted by the electorate to change their lives for the better, are splashing millions on expensive booze and mouth-watering food to celebrate mediocrity. Each municipality must account for how much money was spent on their jamboree,
said Mabunda.