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Gauteng MEC for Finance, Lebogang Maile, will face a difficult balancing act when tabling the 2026/2027 provincial budget tomorrow.

Following Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s State of the Province Address (SOPA), residents now expect the budget to move beyond announcements and instead focus on fixing the basic services that Gauteng residents rely on every day.

One of the most pressing issues remains the supply of water. Earlier this year, the explosion at a Rand Water facility disrupted water supply across several areas in the province, exposing the vulnerability of Gauteng’s ageing infrastructure. Premier Lesufi has indicated that hundreds of millions of rands will be spent on upgrades to water infrastructure, including new reservoirs and pipelines. The question remains whether the upcoming budget allocates sufficient funding to properly maintain the province’s water systems and prevent recurring crises.

Another significant pressure on the budget is the debt associated with the failed e-Toll system. The Gauteng Provincial Government has already paid billions towards this debt and has committed itself to settling the remainder. Gauteng residents should not continue paying for a system they overwhelmingly rejected and were not liable to pay for in the first place.

Public transport commitments will also place additional pressure on provincial finances. The provincial government has announced plans to expand the Gautrain network to areas such as Soweto, Mamelodi, and Fourways. While improving public transport is important, such large-scale projects must be financially sustainable and should not come at the expense of maintaining roads, hospitals, and schools. As the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng, we expect a bloated allocation for this expansion project.

Premier Lesufi also highlighted ongoing challenges with our roads, such as potholes, non-functional traffic lights, and vandalised infrastructure across the province. Fixing these issues must be prioritised in the upcoming budget rather than announcing new projects while existing infrastructure continues to deteriorate.

Crime remains another major concern. The provincial government has announced plans to expand surveillance technology and continue deploying thousands of traffic wardens. Residents will expect the budget to fund these initiatives while ensuring that law enforcement agencies have the resources needed to combat crime effectively.

The DA will scrutinise the 2026/2027 Gauteng budget closely to ensure that it prioritises service delivery, infrastructure maintenance, and economic growth rather than funding political announcements, as has been common practice during Premier Lesufi’s tenure.

Furthermore, we will be monitoring which departments' budgets are cut due to the R1.922 billion that was returned to Treasury for the 2024/2025 financial year. Many of the departments that returned money to the Treasury have failed to deliver services to the residents of this province.

A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would ensure that the budget allocation for each department is spent effectively and that there is value for every rand and cent spent.

Yes, this can be done! Gauteng residents deserve a responsible budget that restores confidence in government and focuses on fixing the fundamentals to enable our province to grow and prosper.

Issued by Ruhan Robinson MPL - DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Finance