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
Committee members said grant money goes unspent because of poor planning, weak monitoring and underperformance. In early 2026 the national Department of Human Settlements also said it would hold back R440 million of two housing grants. Daily Maverick reported the metro had spent only 41% of them. The metro's housing department blamed new environmental permits and slow contractors. A council report pointed instead to serious maladministration, meaning the department was badly or wrongly run.
Parliament of the Republic of South Africa. Published 7 May 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph 5 ('National Treasury notified the municipality of its intention to withhold R26.1 million from the 2025/26 Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant allocation, R125.9 million from the Urban Settlements Development Grant allocation and R126 million from its 2025/26 Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant allocation in terms of section 18 of the 2025 Division of Revenue Act'); paragraph 6 (funds not spent because of poor planning, weak monitoring and underperformance). Paragraph 1 starts 'Parliament, Thursday, 7 May 2026'.
Daily Maverick. Published 22 February 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph 2 (on 5 February the national Department of Human Settlements wrote that it intended to withhold R440 million of USDG and ISUPG funding for informal settlements because of severe underspending); paragraph 3 (the metro had spent only 41% of these grants); paragraph 6 (the department had stopped the next tranche because the recovery plans were 'deemed dissatisfactory'); paragraphs 11-12 (a council report pointed to maladministration). Paragraph 1 is the first body paragraph after the standfirst.
Daily Maverick. Published 12 February 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph 2 (letter of 19 January on the intention to withhold USDG and ISUPG payments); paragraphs 5-7 (letter signed by director-general Alec Moemi; next tranche stopped; 30-day withholding allowed by law). Paragraph 1 is the first body paragraph after the standfirst.
What did the council do, and when?
Who ran the council
Mayor: Babalwa Lobishe (ANC). Council run by ANC, EFF, PAC, Northern Alliance, Defenders of the People, African Independent Congress. From Oct 2024 to present.
EWN. Published 31 October 2024.
Where to look: Paragraph 1 (ANC councillor Lobishe elected uncontested as mayor); paragraph 2 (she resigned as deputy mayor on Thursday morning); paragraph after the 'ALSO READ' link (Van Niekerk elected deputy mayor unopposed)
Daily Maverick. Published 21 July 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph 6 (AIM's Khusta Jack resigned from the coalition in May); paragraph 7 (ANC 47 in coalition with EFF 7, NA 3, Defenders of the People 2, PAC 1 and AIC 1, with UDM voting support; 62 of 120 seats). Paragraph 1 is the first body paragraph after the standfirst.
Daily Maverick. Published 13 September 2026.
Where to look: Paragraph 5 (three government changes since 2021); paragraph 11 (coalition partners the EFF, PAC, Northern Alliance and AIC); paragraph 14 (EFF leads Electricity and Energy, and Budget and Treasury). Paragraph 1 is the first body paragraph after the standfirst.
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