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
Treasury held the payment back because it said the metro kept breaking the law on managing council money. Treasury's own statement names the metro and gives this reason. EWN reported the same on the day. Daily Maverick's report of 28 July does not say if Buffalo City had met Treasury's terms by then. Treasury's list names 69 councils, but EWN says 70.
National Treasury. Published 7 July 2026.
Where to look: Page 1 of 3: paragraph 1 (temporarily withholding the July 2026 equitable share transfers 'following persistent and serious non-compliance with the Municipal Finance Management Act'); paragraph 2 ('The selected municipalities are: Eastern Cape - Buffalo City, Nelson Mandela Bay, ...'; 69 municipalities in all). Page 3: transfers resume once conditions are met; 'Date: 07 July 2026'
EWN. Published 7 July 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph 2 ('The Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City metros will have their equitable share of the national revenue held back for continued poor financial management and non-compliance with legislation'); paragraph 3 (along with those of 68 other municipalities); paragraph 4 ('the Buffalo City Metro has been allocated R1.29 billion' for 2026/27). Paragraph 1 starts 'National Treasury will temporarily withhold', after the photo caption.
Daily Maverick. Published 28 July 2026.
Where to look: Paragraphs 1-2 (Treasury decided to release the funds, citing service delivery); paragraph 17 (20 municipalities already had their full share; the other 49 would get partial or full allocations on Friday, 31 July, including 28 that had not complied and had received nothing). Buffalo City is not named. Paragraph 1 is the first body paragraph after the standfirst.
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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