- Twenty struggling municipalities are carrying a staggering R52.7 billion in debt older than 90 days, nearly three times the revenue they generated in an entire year.
- An Inside Politics analysis reveals councils where overdue debt now exceeds four, five and even six years’ worth of annual operating income. See which municipalities made the list and how deep the financial crisis runs behind the numbers.
- The money was meant to fund roads, water, electricity and basic services. Instead, 20 financially distressed municipalities are sitting with R52.7 billion in overdue debt, raising fresh questions about governance, revenue collection and service delivery.
By Jonathan Erasmus
Twenty municipalities identified by Inside Politics as facing severe financial headwinds are carrying R52.7 billion in debt more than 90 days overdue – almost three times the operating revenue they generated in an entire year.
To put that in perspective, South Africa’s 2026/27 defence budget is R57.61 billion.
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