AfriForum asks MEC to intervene at struggling JB Marks Municipality over excessive salary increases
According to AfriForum, a 50% salary increase for the Municipal Manager – under whose leadership this municipality in the North West incurred nearly R79 million in fruitless and wasteful expenditure during the past financial year – is simply unacceptable. Consequently, the civil rights organisation is now insisting that Oageng Gaoage Molapisi, the North West MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, intervene and investigate this and other excessive salary increases approved for the senior management of the struggling JB Marks Local Municipality.
AfriForum submitted its request to Molapisi in a formal letter on Friday (3 July). Copies were also sent to Kenetswe Mosenogi, the North West MEC for Treasury, and the Auditor-General.
According to Jaco Grobbelaar, AfriForum’s Regional Head for the Central Region, AfriForum insists that Molapisi urgently investigate the legality and affordability of the approved salary increases. He must also determine whether the decision complies with the provisions of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and other applicable legislation. Furthermore, AfriForum demands that the provincial government determine whether the municipality – given its dire financial straits, massive debt to Eskom, and an ongoing service delivery crisis – can afford these increases.
“If there are any irregularities or financial misconduct, the province must exercise its constitutional oversight powers to intervene and protect taxpayers against further financial mismanagement,” explains Grobbelaar.
The municipality’s budget for the 2026/2027 financial year was approved on 23 June. As part of this, a 50% salary increase was approved for the Municipal Manager, Kgomotso Khumbe. This will increase Khumbe’s annual salary package from the current figure of approximately R1,4 million to around R2,2 million. In addition to Khumbe’s massive raise, increases of about 37% were also granted to other senior management members – increases that will, moreover, be implemented retroactively to 2024.
AfriForum has criticised these exorbitant increases. “The Municipality is currently under immense financial pressure and carries a significant debt burden to Eskom. Of the approximately R78,9 million in fruitless and wasteful expenditure, about R69,3 million consists of interest on outstanding Eskom debt. Furthermore, these increases come at a time when the Municipality’s roads, as well as its water and electricity infrastructure, are deteriorating and service delivery is at an all-time low,” Grobbelaar remarked sharply.
According to AfriForum, Ventersdorp has been particularly hard hit by municipal decay. Residents there frequently have to go without electricity for days on end due to the failing electricity network, while other infrastructure – such as roads – is also not adequately maintained. Meanwhile, taxpayers are still expected to pay for services that are not being delivered to them.
“It is inconceivable that the same management under whom this Municipality went off the rails – both financially and administratively – is now being rewarded with salary increases of up to 50%. When a Municipality cannot even pay its Eskom bill, allows infrastructure to deteriorate, and fails its communities, the focus should be on accountability and recovery, not on the enrichment of deployed cadres,” explains Grobbelaar.
According to Grobbelaar, political loyalties clearly play a far greater role in the Municipality than competence does. “Cadre deployment destroys municipalities, and ordinary residents pay the price. AfriForum will not remain silent while public funds are used to reward failure,” says Grobbelaar.
AfriForum takes action itself despite municipal decay
While municipal officials in the JB Marks Municipality enrich themselves at the community’s expense, AfriForum has established its own neighbourhood team in Potchefstroom over the past month. This team of full-time workers focuses on delivering services that the Municipality is no longer capable of providing. The neighbourhood team tackles issues such as infrastructure problems, cleanup operations, and other community projects.
A recycling project has also been launched in Potchefstroom, through which residents’ recyclable materials are collected, sorted, and sold. The proceeds are reinvested into local community projects.
“We cannot simply stand by and watch our towns crumble under the weight of poor management and cadre deployment. Where the state fails, communities step up. AfriForum is an organisation of builders. That is why we build practical solutions that make a tangible difference, rather than watching tax money being squandered on mismanagement and exorbitant salaries,” concludes Grobbelaar.
Support AfriForum’s campaign against cadre deployment
For decades, cadre deployment has led to incompetent appointments, financial mismanagement, and the collapse of municipal service delivery in every corner of the country. Add your voice to AfriForum’s fight against cadre deployment here.
