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MMC for Group Finance in the City of Johannesburg Loyiso Masuku delivers the budget speech.
The City of Johannesburg has tabled a R97.1 billion budget for the 2026/2027 financial year, with a strong focus on reforming struggling municipal trading entities and stabilising service delivery infrastructure.
Delivering the budget speech at the Johannesburg Council Chamber, MMC for Group Finance Loyiso Masuku warned that years of governance failures, weak revenue collection and ageing infrastructure had severely weakened key services such as electricity, water and waste management.
Masuku says electricity distribution losses stand at 27%, while non-revenue water losses exceed 40%, with infrastructure renewal backlogs across City Power, Johannesburg Water and the Johannesburg Roads Agency exceeding R185 billion.
Masuku says a major reform of the city’s trading services will be central to restoring financial stability and improving service delivery.
“Electricity distribution losses stand at 27% and the combined infrastructure renewal backlog across Joburg Water, City Power and the Johannesburg Roads Agency exceeds R185 billion. Without meaningful institutional reform, capital investment alone cannot achieve this, and we have to work together to ensure sustainable service delivery.”
The 2026/27 Budget also places strong emphasis on governance, accountability and rebuilding public confidence in the City.
The budget supports:
🔸 Stronger financial controls and consequence management
🔸 Improved revenue collection and anti-corruption measures
🔸 Public… pic.twitter.com/XI0sFNtoHv— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) May 27, 2026
The budget also reinforces the City’s commitment to protecting vulnerable residents while balancing affordability and financial recovery.
Measures include:
✔️ The first R300 000 of residential property value remaining exempt from rates
✔️ 6 kilolitres of free water for all… pic.twitter.com/lAM0z37Rcs— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) May 27, 2026
