Operating deficit
Reported annual operating expenditure exceeded revenue excluding capital transfers. This financial pressure is distinct from proof of service failure.
A closer look at the financial evidence behind your local government.
Reported annual operating expenditure exceeded revenue excluding capital transfers. This financial pressure is distinct from proof of service failure.
| Financial year | Expenditure | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| 2022/23 | R 1B | R 975M |
| 2023/24 | R 1,2B | R 1,1B |
| 2024/25 | R 1,3B | R 1,1B |
| Financial year | Maintenance ratio |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 1,613% |
| 2023/24 | 1,632% |
| 2024/25 | 1,995% |
Eight largest reported categories are shown individually. All remaining reported categories are summed as “Other”; the exact data table lists each source category.
| Category | Expenditure |
|---|---|
| Water Distribution | R 252 083 512,00 |
| Finance | R 209 653 034,00 |
| Water Treatment | R 199 439 825,00 |
| Mayor and Council | R 92 283 794,00 |
| Solid Waste Removal | R 56 410 817,00 |
| Recreational Facilities | R 48 948 806,00 |
| Administrative and Corporate Support | R 44 524 224,00 |
| Electricity | R 41 905 974,00 |
| Roads | R 38 067 024,00 |
| Sewerage | R 28 756 791,00 |
| Civil Defence | R 25 182 683,00 |
| Municipal Manager, Town Secretary and Chief Executive | R 23 624 676,00 |
| Fleet Management | R 23 293 514,00 |
| Information Technology | R 21 336 211,00 |
| Human Resources | R 17 508 253,00 |
| Community Halls and Facilities | R 17 414 373,00 |
| Police Forces, Traffic and Street Parking Control | R 12 994 744,00 |
| Street Lighting and Signal Systems | R 11 021 554,00 |
| Economic Development/Planning | R 10 454 086,00 |
| Asset Management | R 9 391 728,00 |
| Supply Chain Management | R 7 167 492,00 |
| Corporate Wide Strategic Planning (IDPs, LEDs) | R 6 620 797,00 |
| Project Management Unit | R 5 791 249,00 |
| Governance Function | R 5 473 599,00 |
| Agricultural | R 3 806 614,00 |
| Tourism | R 3 234 902,00 |
| Museums and Art Galleries | R 3 036 439,00 |
| Legal Services | R 2 506 102,00 |
| Town Planning, Building Regulations and Enforcement, and City Engineer | R 2 311 665,00 |
| Libraries and Archives | R 2 074 076,00 |
| Media Services | R 1 555 391,00 |
| Risk Management | R 1 138 163,00 |
| Disaster Management | R 1 106 786,00 |
| Cemeteries, Funeral Parlours and Crematoriums | R 321 476,00 |
An audit opinion assesses financial reporting and compliance. It does not certify service delivery or rule out all wrongdoing.
| Indicator | Reported value | What it tells you | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repairs and maintenance | 1,632% | Audited annual repairs divided by reported property, plant, equipment and investment property. Reference 8%; ratios outside 0–100% need source review. | |
| Cash coverage | 14,783 months | Year-end cash divided by one twelfth of audited annual operating expenditure. Reference 3 months. | |
| Operating balance | -17,121% | Revenue excluding capital transfers minus operating expenditure, divided by that revenue. |