SALGA calls on Treasury to release funds to 75 municipalities


The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) has called on National Treasury to immediately release the Local Government Equitable Share tranche for 75 municipalities across the country.

National Treasury issued two circulars in September this year, outlining its intention to invoke Section 216 (2) of the Constitution and Section 38 of the Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2003.

Salga says these measures permitted the Treasury withdrawal of the equitable shares, which support critical municipal functions.

Salga’s spokesperson Motalatale Modiba explains that the withdrawal will negatively affect municipalities to sustain services. He says they have made multiple attempts to engage with the National Treasury, and despite their repeated efforts, Treasury did not provide the necessary cooperation.

“The equitable share supports critical municipal functions, and therefore, the withdrawal will obviously impact negatively on the affected municipalities to sustain services to their respective communities. The South African Local Government Association has made multiple attempts to engage Treasury in an attempt to prevent the withholding of the equitable share and to ensure that affected municipalities are assisted to comply with legislative requirements.”