The Emfuleni Local Municipality has come under fire for spending a staggering R700 million on overtime over the past six years, despite failing to deliver basic services to its residents. The municipality, which is battling to deal with sewage spillages and uncollected waste, has defended the spending, saying it was necessary to keep essential services running amid staff shortages and operational strain.
According to figures revealed in a written reply to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature by municipal manager April Ntuli, the overtime costs have been steadily rising, from R91.6 million in 2019/2020 to R110.2 million in 2024/2025. The expenditure includes close to R200 million during the Covid-19 lockdown period in 2020 and 2021, when large parts of the country were not fully operational.
Overtime Spending vs Service Delivery
However, the spending has not translated into improved services for residents, who continue to face uncollected refuse, sewage spilling into streets and homes, and a severe shortage of refuse trucks. Reports show that only five operational trucks were servicing Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging, leaving most of the municipality’s 45 wards without reliable waste collection.
The breakdown in basic services has fuelled illegal dumping, with the number of dumping sites increasing from about 308 to more than 320. Closed waste-transfer stations and poor resource management have worsened what critics describe as an environmental catastrophe. As noted on the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries website, effective waste management is crucial for protecting the environment and public health.
Criticism and Concerns
The Democratic Alliance has sharply criticised the spending, accusing the ANC-led municipality of failing residents. DA Emfuleni mayoral candidate Kingsol Chabalala said despite the massive overtime bill, there has been no improvement in services. “Despite this excessive spending on overtime, there is no visible improvement in service delivery across Emfuleni,” he said.
Chabalala added that the spending was an insult to residents who continue to live in deteriorating conditions, and that such funds should translate into visible improvements in basic services. “This raises eyebrows about where this money is actually going. Are employees genuinely working these overtime hours, or is this yet another channel through which public funds are being misused or siphoned away?” he asked.
Some of the key concerns and questions surrounding the overtime spending include:
- Was the spending necessary to keep essential services running, or was it a result of poor planning and management?
- How will the municipality address the staff shortages and operational strain that led to the high overtime costs?
- What measures will be taken to improve service delivery and ensure that residents receive the basic services they need?
For more information on municipal governance and service delivery, visit the South African Government website.
