Approve budget or risk being put under administration - Joburg Speaker

Finance MMC Dada Morero is expected to table the city's budget on Tuesday.

Makhubele addressed the media in Braamfontein on Monday.

The tabling of the budget has been delayed by the political instability in the city, caused by the ousting of Mayor Mpho Phalatse in a vote of no confidence in January and the subsequent resignation of her successor Thapelo Amad in April.

"If this budget is not approved on Wednesday by the council it effectively means that the city has no money, and in simple terms, it means that we do not have a city to run,” Makhubele said.

“Failure to approve this budget it would mean that the MEC [for Cooperative Governance] must put the city under administration. It is very important that the MMC of Finance meets the reasonable expectations of various political parties in the presentation of the budget and is able to address all the concerns of different constituencies through this budget so that we have it approved."

Makhubele said the approval of the budget must happen if the city is to address service delivery challenges.

"We are already late in presenting the budget of the political changes that we have experienced, we had to get an extension from that MMC of Finance and as a city, we are really sailing very close to the wind. So it is very important for the Government of Local Unity to convince the entire council on Wednesday,” she added.

It remains unclear if the budget vote will be presented in council in the presence of current Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda, who fell sick last week after delivering his State of the City Address.

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