In a firm show of commitment to “sustainable development anchored in radical infrastructure development and socio-economic growth,” Honourable Mayor Cllr P. Tsileng Sobuthongo presented the Ntabankulu Local Municipality’s 2025/2026 State of the Municipality Address (SOMA), accompanied by a record R395 million budget.
The address reflected on the achievements since the council’s term began in 2021, highlighting infrastructure gains, job creation efforts, and human settlement progress, while charting a bold path for the coming financial year.
“The municipality is now a construction site,” said Sobuthongo, referencing major roadworks, an R589 million Agricultural College, and nearly R100 million in new housing developments. A strong focus was placed on delivering basic services, especially in rural wards, while reducing the electricity backlog to just 1%—a significant achievement under the Integrated National Electrification Program.
Major allocations include:
- R169 million for basic service delivery such as roads, housing, bridges, and ECDs.
- R83.4 million for human settlements, with hundreds of homes already under construction.
- R44.3 million via the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) for roads, halls, and sport fields.
- R21.3 million for access road rehabilitation under disaster relief funding.
- R9.9 million for electrification of 345 household extensions and infills.
- R6 million for free basic energy to indigent families.
The mayor also emphasized local economic development initiatives such as cannabis cooperative support, poultry and crop farming, and tourism promotion. More than 2,700 jobs were created over the past three years via EPWP and CWP programmes, with continued funding secured for 2025/2026.
Sobuthongo issued a strong warning against land invasion and vandalism of infrastructure like streetlights, calling it sabotage of community progress. The SOMA also recommitted to anti-corruption values and urged residents to support revenue generation through paying for services.
“We are not yet where we want to be,” the mayor concluded, “but we are firmly on the right path.”
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