The Bulletin News

The Sasol Highveld Photography Club gathered in April 2026 for a lively club meeting and guest-judge evening with Robbie Aspeling. The meeting featured 58 entries across eight categories — Nature (11), Photojournalism (4), Monochrome (10), Pictorial (11), Scapes (6), Nature — Birds Only (6) and Set Subject (10) — and included both senior and junior competitions.

Highlights

PSSA News:

• Best Club Junior / Senior CompetitionSenior winner for March: Leon Pelser with “Inspection” (30 points)
• Junior winner for March: Edmund Hattingh with “Stofwolk” (30 points).

• Web competition top entries in March included Leon Pelser, DNE Smit, Sussa Pelser and Yolandi Geyser.

PSSA news and salon results The club reviewed recent PSSA salon successes and encouraged members to nominate “Sasol Highveld Photography” as their club when entering web and salon competitions

• 2nd Highway Salon PDI (2026): multiple acceptances and a Category Runner-Up (PSSA Bronze) for Sussa Pelser.
• Ermelo Fotoklub 5th Digital Salon (2026): several accepted entries and a Certificate of Merit to Yolandi Geyser.
• 14th National AFO Salon (2026) and PSSA 29th National Up-and-Coming Photo Competition (2026): numerous accepted images from club members including Sussa Pelser, DNE Smit, Louis van der Walt, Yolandi Geyser and Edmund Hattingh (pages 10–11).

Upcoming salons and events A list of upcoming salons with closing dates was presented to members, including HCPS 7th Salon, TAF 15th Print & PDI Salon, Sandton National Digital Salon and international competitions such as the China International Photographic Art Exhibition. Members were encouraged to participate and to choose the club as their nominated entry club.

Club business and calendar The club agenda covered member birthdays, promotions (none this month), PSSA news, photography events, the guest judge presentation, scoring and closure. The meeting calendar and set-subject schedule for the year were confirmed : April — Motion (17 April meeting), May — Night (8 May), June — Time (5 June), July — Funny (3 July), August — Forms in Nature (14 August), September — Industrial (4 September), October — Mirror, mirror (2 October), November — Self-Portrait (6 November) and the year-end AGM and braai on 5 December.

Closing The meeting closed with thanks to winners and participants and encouragement to keep entering PSSA salons and web competitions (closure slide, page 19). Members are reminded to keep Photovault profiles (including birthdays) up to date and to nominate the club when entering competitions.

The best Senior Photographer for April is Leon Pelser with “Dusty Game”

The best Junior Photographer for April is Yolandi Geyser with “Watcher in the Dark”

The best Setsubject Photograph for April is DNE Smit with “Spier Tiere”

Here are all the COM and Gold winners for the April meeting:

Category – Nature: Birds Only

Category – Scapes

Category – Monochrome

Category – Nature

Category – Pictorial

Category – Photojournalism

Category – Set Subject

The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) has intensified its campaign against the growing lawlessness of taxi associations in Mpumalanga.

“During a recent oversight visit by the Mpumalanga Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety to the SAPS provincial headquarters, the party once again raised the critical issue of illegal taxi patrols,” said Werner Weber Freedom Front Plus MPL: Mpumalanga

The Freedom Front Plus emphasised that no individual or organisation—including taxi associations—is above the law.

The conduct and public statements of certain leaders, such as the Mpumalanga chairperson of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), Mr Fanyana Sibanyoni—who has claimed that the association has the right to stop motorists and prevent lift-sharing—have contributed to the current state of lawlessness on the province’s roads.

Taxi patrol groups are reportedly forcing motorists off the road using life-threatening tactics, demanding unlawful fines, and employing violence to enforce monopolies over transport routes.

Numerous vehicles and drivers are operating without valid permits, while intimidation and extortion are being used to eliminate competition.

Although the MEC for Community Safety, Mr Jackie Macie, has undertaken to investigate the matter, commitments without decisive action are insufficient.

The authorities’ reluctance to make arrests is emboldening these groups to continue their unlawful and often violent activities.

The Freedom Front Plus calls for the immediate disbandment of all unlawful taxi patrols, the criminal prosecution of individuals involved in hijackings, intimidation, and extortion, as well as a moratorium on new operating licences and the revocation of licences held by associations implicated in such activities.

South Africans deserve dignity and safety on public roads.

The Freedom Front Plus will continue to apply pressure in the Legislature until the authorities recognise that maintaining law and order is not optional—and that this principle applies equally to the taxi industry.

What Is a Municipal Budget? The municipal budget is the annual financial plan adopted by the elected council. It outlines how funds will be collected and spent to deliver services, maintain infrastructure, and promote development. The budget is the key mechanism through which municipal priorities—set out in the IDP—are realised.

Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget consultations are annual, mandatory public participation processes in South Africa that allow residents to influence municipal service-delivery priorities and spending before the new financial year begins. These consultations typically run between August and May, and final municipal budgets must be approved before the start of the municipal financial year on July 1.

About the IDP and Budget Process

• The IDP is the municipality’s five-year strategic plan setting development priorities and objectives. The annual budget allocates funding to deliver those priorities (for example, water, roads, housing, sanitation and other municipal services).
• Municipalities invite community stakeholders to review and comment on draft IDP and budget documents through ward meetings, written submissions, and public notices. Inputs are considered before the council finalises the budget and adoption occurs ahead of the new financial year.
• IDPs are reviewed annually (even though they cover five years) to accommodate changing needs and to align the budget with current priorities.

Read the IDP here: Draft fourth annual review of idp.pdf

Read the Draft Budget here: DRAFT MEDIUM TERM REVENUE EXPENDITURE FRAMEWORK FOR THE 2026 2027 FINANCIAL.pdf

Current Consultations (2026/27): Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM) GMM has scheduled public consultation meetings from 8 April to 20 April 2026. Residents may provide written inputs:

• General IDP inputs: sharon.p@govanmbeki.gov.za
• Budget inputs: office.cfo@govanmbeki.gov.za

How to Participate

• Take part in local meetings during the consultation period to raise priorities directly with councillors and municipal officials.
• Access draft IDP and budget documents—usually available on municipal websites, at municipal offices, or public libraries—and review proposed projects and allocations.
• If you cannot attend meetings, submit written inputs by email to the addresses above or use designated drop-off points where available.

Why Participation Matters

• Public participation is a statutory right under the Municipal Systems Act. Engaging ensures your ward’s needs are considered in planning and spending decisions.
• Resident input can shape which projects are prioritised and funded—such as repairs to infrastructure, improvements in water or sanitation, local safety measures, or community facilities.

How Municipal Budgets Work

• When does the municipal financial year start?
• The municipal financial year runs annually and must begin with an approved budget on July 1.

Funding sources:

• Property rates: Levies on property owners based on assessed values.
• Service charges: Fees for water, electricity, sanitation, and waste removal.
• National and provincial transfers: Grants like the Equitable Share to support basic services for indigent households.
• Fines, licenses, investments: Revenue from fines, business licenses, and municipal investments.
• Borrowing: Loans for major infrastructure projects.

• The municipal budget funds essential public services and infrastructure—basic services (water, electricity, sanitation, roads), community development (libraries, parks), public safety (fire, disaster management), and local economic growth initiatives.

Who Benefits? Municipal budgets serve all residents and businesses. They are especially crucial for indigent households relying on free or subsidised services and for ensuring a functional environment that supports local economic activity.

The Connection Between the IDP and the Budget The IDP sets the municipality’s strategic goals for economic and social development over five years and is managed by mayors, executive committees, and municipal managers. The annual budget is the implementation tool that allocates financial resources to projects and programs that deliver the IDP’s objectives. Annual IDP reviews—conducted during the budget process—allow municipalities to adjust plans to reflect changing priorities and inputs from the community.

Public Role After Budget Adoption Municipalities must create systems that maximise public participation. With rising tariffs and constrained resources, citizen involvement in budget processes is essential to ensure funds are directed appropriately toward operating and capital costs. After budgets are finalised, residents can monitor municipal spending by:

• Reviewing Auditor-General annual reports to assess compliance and value for money.

• Using audit findings to advocate for budget changes and improved service delivery in subsequent budget cycles. Active civic monitoring helps improve local facilities and outcomes for communities.

How to get involved now

• Note the GMM consultation period (8–20 April 2026).
• Attend your ward meeting or review the draft IDP and budget online or at municipal offices/libraries.
• Send written submissions to sharon.p@govanmbeki.gov.za (IDP) or office.cfo@govanmbeki.gov.za (budget).

Participation ensures municipal plans and spending reflect community priorities and improves accountability in how public funds are used.

“The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga has written to Health MEC Sasekani Manzini demanding urgent action to fill critical vacancies and address severe equipment and infrastructure shortages at Embhuleni District Hospital,” said Bosman Grobler, MPL — DA Spokesperson on Health, Mpumalanga Legislature.

Key findings and stats

• Staff Nurses: required 78 — currently 5 (94% vacancy)
• Professional Nurses: required 149 — currently 117 (21% vacancy)
• Medical Officers: required 39 — currently 14 (64% vacancy)
• Service footprint: Gert Sibande District, including an estimated 248,000 residents of Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality

As part of the ongoing Taking Legislature to the People (TLP) programme, the Portfolio Committee on Health, chaired by Munene Mhlongo, conducted an oversight visit to Embhuleni Hospital to evaluate healthcare access and project implementation. The hospital, founded in 1982 and marking 42 years, shows a stark contrast between its history and current operational challenges.

Presentations by Department Head Dr. Lucas Ndhlovu and Chief Director Dr. Sheryl Nelson confirmed that:

Board and administrative notes Sitani Nkosi, Chairperson of the Hospital Board, reported improvements and ongoing concerns:

• A new filing system has reduced missing patient files.
• Four new doctors have been appointed, stabilising emergency services and reducing outsourcing costs.
• The board is conducting surprise visits to monitor staff performance and executive accountability.
• However, committee members raised concerns about administrative discrepancies: some executive members remain on the payroll despite suspensions being lifted but have not returned to duty.

Committee demands and department response The Portfolio Committee demanded:

• Immediate filling of vacancies to reduce wait times and nurse fatigue.
• Comprehensive infrastructure upgrades, including replacement of old piping, improved disability access, and installation of surveillance cameras.
• Reinstatement of suspended employees cleared to return and a new strategy for engagement with labour unions.

Dr. Ndhlovu reported that 37 artisans have been deployed to begin renovations and equipment installation. He noted the financial logic of maintaining and optimising existing facilities when beds are under-utilised at smaller hospitals.

Accountability and deadline The committee has required the hospital and the Provincial Department of Health to submit a formal mitigation report addressing all raised concerns by 04/07/2026.

Impact and DA call to action The DA reiterates that failing to urgently address staffing, equipment and infrastructure shortages will perpetuate overcrowding, poor patient outcomes, longer waiting times, delayed diagnoses and staff burnout. The DA calls on MEC Sasekani Manzini to prioritise immediate recruitment of nursing staff and medical officers, procurement of essential equipment and consumables, and full infrastructure refurbishments to restore safe, timely care for the community.

Govan Mbeki Municipality has tabled a draft 2026/27 Medium-Term Revenue & Expenditure Framework that lays bare a municipality under acute financial stress. The document, prepared in line with MFMA and National Treasury guidance, shows rising costs, shrinking capital investment and a funding shortfall that threatens service delivery and legal compliance.

A stark funding gap The draft budget projects operating revenue of R3.819 billion against operating expenditure of R4.169 billion — an operating deficit of about R349 million. Including capital, the municipality faces an overall deficit of R432 million. These shortfalls come alongside a reduced capital programme of R192.9 million for 2026/27, down by R27.6 million from the adjusted 2025/26 budget, constraining investment in infrastructure at a time when maintenance and upgrades are critical.

Mounting liabilities and cash-flow risk The municipality’s creditors currently total R7.638 billion, with Eskom and Rand Water the largest outstanding accounts. At an assumed 66% payment rate, only R4.45 billion of debt is realistically collectible over time — well short of what is needed to meet obligations and sustain operations. The budget papers warn the municipality will be unable to pay obligations as they fall due, risking non-compliance with Subsection 99(2)(b) of the Municipal Finance Management Act and exposing the council to potential litigation, additional interest charges and escalating legal fees.

Drivers of the deterioration Operating expenditure has increased by R331.43 million relative to the current adjusted budget, driven mainly by salary increases (kept within the 35% regulation), higher bulk-purchase costs and general inflation. Revenue growth is constrained, and without decisive action collection rates, operating efficiency and cost control will not improve fast enough to close the gap.

Service delivery and personnel implications Cash-flow constraints could leave critical vacancies unfilled, undermining service delivery and limiting the municipality’s operational capacity. The papers call for an urgent, intensive review of the organizational structure to align staff to essential deliverables.

Policy response and recommended measures The draft reiterates the statutory requirement to adopt funded budgets and urges immediate interventions: expenditure reprioritization, strict cost containment, intensified revenue enhancement and improved credit control, and full implementation of mSCOA. Administratively, the municipality proposes tariff increases (water and sewerage up to 11%, provisional electricity 12.74%, assessment rates and other tariffs around 3.7%) and other policy measures aimed at stabilizing finances. The document also stresses that if an unfunded budget is adopted, Council must table a credible plan showing how the municipality will move to a funded position.

Political fallout: opposition to an unfunded budget The funding gap and the municipality’s precarious cash position drew political opposition. The Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+) voted against accepting an unfunded budget, signalling concern that the draft fails to provide a sustainable, lawful funding model and warning that continued acceptance of unfunded budgets will deepen financial instability and compromise core services.

Conclusion Govan Mbeki’s 2026/27 draft budget signals an urgent need for decisive, sustained fiscal action. The operating and overall deficits — R349 million and R432 million respectively — coupled with R7.638 billion in creditors and limited collectible debt, create an immediate liquidity crisis with legal and service-delivery consequences. While the administration has proposed revenue and cost measures, the rejection by DA and FF+ of an unfunded budget underscores the political and governance challenge: without a credible, fundable plan and disciplined implementation, the municipality risks further deterioration in financial health and service outcomes.

The court order and accompanying cost order in the urgent legal case brought by Saai, Sakeliga and Free State Agriculture against the Minister, Director-General and Director of Animal Health of the Department of Agriculture, regarding the control of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine, have once again highlighted how far removed the bureaucratic world of the public service is from the seriousness and urgency of livestock farming. While more farms are financially collapsing every day, the Minister, after three months, brought a draft framework for action (an Article 10 vaccination scheme) to court as his solution—one that had been rejected by his own department a week earlier. The current outbreak has been a major threat since 2022/2023, yet the Minister could only present a draft minutes before the hearing.

The more than three months during which the agricultural industry tried to assist the department with the contents of the vaccination scheme have been prohibitively costly, with hundreds of dairies, stud breeders, commercial herds and small-scale farmers facing losses from which they may not recover. Saai welcomes the fact that the court has now imposed strict deadlines on the Minister, ahead of the postponed court date. Should the Minister wish to promulgate a scheme, it must be done before 17 April 2026.

The order also creates an opportunity for farmers and other stakeholders, who have been excluded by the Minister, to provide input into the final vaccination scheme.

The matter was argued in court today after the Minister, for more than a month, failed to indicate the legal basis for his insistence that all aspects of the vaccination campaign must be controlled by the state. It is now clear that such legal grounds do not exist, but are instead based on an ideological preference for centralised state control rather than private initiative.

“It is regrettable that a DA Minister subscribes to ANC ideals of central control. Farmers suspect that state interference is designed to inflate costs so that politically connected tenderpreneurs and parasitic officials can benefit improperly, regardless of the consequences for livestock farmers on their farms,” said the statement by SAAI

Total state control has plunged the livestock industry into its greatest existential crisis ever, and although there are some agricultural organisations that support it, Saai and its network partners are mandated to ensure that central control is not presented as the only solution.