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
Buffalo City built a little over half (55%) of the houses it planned for 2024-25. The city's own annual report gives these figures. The Auditor-General audited (checked) this part of the 2024-25 report. It found no material problems with it. That means no problems big enough to matter. The 2023-24 figure also comes from the city itself. But the Auditor-General found errors in that year's reported figures for this area.
Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. Published 1 February 2026.
Where to look: PDF page 562, scorecard 'Strategic outcome 4: A spatially transformed city', indicator KFA 25 HS1.11 'Number of subsidised housing units constructed': 2023/24 target 748, actual 379; 2024/25 target 800, actual 439; reason for deviation: work stoppages after 'inclement weather' in the 4th quarter. Printed page 198 (PDF page 198), paragraph 1: 'the Directorate completed 439 top structures'; 225 in Peelton and 214 in Mdantsane Zone 18cc. PDF pages 654-655 (Auditor-General's report, paragraphs 18, 20 and 23: 'A Spatially Transformed City' selected for audit; no material findings). PDF page 645 (table T6.1.2, Auditor-General report on 2023/2024 service delivery performance: 'A Spatially transformed city', 'Misstatements between actual and reported achievements were found')
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: Printed page 168 (PDF page 172), table 'Low achievement of targets by metros': Buffalo City, development priority 'A spatially transformed city', 38% of planned targets achieved (as reported by the metro)
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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