The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in Gauteng welcomes the engagement between the Gauteng Provincial Treasury and municipal finance leadership through the Finance Political Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) Forum.

The strengthening of coordination, accountability and sound financial management across the province is urgently needed. Municipal finances must be managed responsibly because every rand of public money has a direct impact on the lives of workers, poor communities and the unemployed.

Gauteng municipalities continue to face serious financial and service delivery challenges. Poor financial management, weak revenue collection, growing municipal debt, wasteful expenditure and failures in consequence management ultimately affect ordinary residents through poor service delivery, deteriorating infrastructure and unreliable access to water, electricity and other essential services.

COSATU believes that this forum must not become another meeting where challenges are discussed without practical action. Provincial and municipal leadership must take decisive steps to strengthen financial controls, improve accountability and ensure that those responsible for financial misconduct face consequences.

Workers and communities cannot continue paying the price for poor planning, corruption and mismanagement. Public resources must be directed towards improving infrastructure, maintaining public services and meeting the needs of communities.

COSATU further calls for greater cooperation between the Gauteng Provincial Government and municipalities to address the financial crisis facing local government. The province must provide the necessary support and oversight, while municipal political and administrative leadership must fulfil their responsibilities.

The Federation will continue to demand transparent, accountable and people-centred governance. Sound financial management must not only be about improving audit outcomes and balancing the books. It must translate into better services, functioning municipalities and improved living conditions for the working class and poor communities.

Issued by COSATU Gauteng

Provincial Chairperson: Amos Monyela, 079 493 5002

Provincial Secretary: Louisah Modikwe, 082 297 2659