Checked 27 October 2026
Where the facts in this claim come from
Every fact on the claim page, with the sources we used. We save a copy of each source on the day we read it.
What does the evidence show?
Why it is Verified
The problem was Buffalo City's records of what it owns, such as land, buildings, roads and pipes. The Auditor-General said these records were not backed by reliable documents. The Auditor-General raised no doubt that Buffalo City can keep running and paying its bills. Buffalo City formally disputed findings in the Auditor-General's audit. This means it did not agree with them. The Auditor-General's report sums up Buffalo City in one line: "Limited consequence management weakens service delivery and accountability". Here, consequence management means acting against officials who break the rules. Accountability means leaders and officials answering for what they do.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: Printed page 204 (PDF page 208), Buffalo City 'Five-year audit outcomes' table: 2020-21 Qualified with findings, 2021-22 Unqualified with findings, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 Qualified with findings; 'Financial statements: Audit opinion: Qualified'. Printed page 167 (PDF page 171) and printed page 10 (PDF page 14): Buffalo City among the metros that 'lodged formal disputes on our audit findings'
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 18 February 2026.
Where to look: Slide 3: 'Financial statements – Qualified with findings' (uncorrected misstatements in property, plant and equipment); slide 5: 'The Metro has had a qualified audit opinion with findings for the past three financial years.' Slide 5 also: 'leaving the disclosed asset base unsupported by reliable documentation'.
Business Day. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph 4: 'The metros of Cape Town, eThekwini and Johannesburg achieved unqualified audit opinions with findings, with Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, Buffalo City, Mangaung and Nelson Mandela Bay all achieving qualified audit opinions with findings.'
What did the council do, and when?
Who ran the council
Mayor: Princess Faku (ANC). Council run by ANC. From Mar 2023 to present.
Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. Published 27 March 2023.
Where to look: Lead paragraph ('elected as the new Mayor of Buffalo City Metro during the Special Council meeting on Thursday evening 23 March 2023'); paragraph 2 ('takes over from Cllr Xola Pakati who resigned on Monday 20 March')
SABC News. Published 23 March 2023.
Where to look: Paragraph 1 (Faku elected; Pakati 'resigned on Monday'; the ANC PEC 'recalled Pakati two weeks ago citing poor audit outcomes, wasteful expenditure and failure to collect revenue'); paragraph 3 ('62 votes against the 22 for Bentley'); paragraph 5 (EFF did not vote). Paragraph 2 is a linked video title.
Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC). Published 22 November 2021.
Where to look: Page 3 of 4, seat table: 'AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS 61 43 18' (total, ward, PR seats); page 4: 'Total Party Seats 100 50 50'. Printed on 2021/11/22.
Daily Maverick. Published 1 October 2026.
Where to look: Buffalo City mayoral candidates section: 'The ANC has yet to confirm its candidate. The ANC has offered incumbent mayor Princess Faku, former deputy minister Nocawe Mafu, Simphiwe Dzengwa and Ncedo Kumbaca as its potential candidates.'
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