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
Councils must follow set rules when they spend public money. In 2024-25, Nelson Mandela Bay broke them on R2.08 billion of spending. The Auditor-General says R22.23 billion of irregular spending from earlier years had not been dealt with. It says the metro has not looked into large amounts of irregular and wasteful spending from several years back. It links this to a council oversight committee without enough resources, political instability and empty senior posts.
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: PDF page 3, row 172 'Nelson Mandela Bay Metro' under 'Financial audits (audit opinion before consolidation of controlled entities, where applicable)', last three columns: unauthorised 1 649,2m, irregular 2 078,6m, fruitless and wasteful 4,7m
Auditor-General of South Africa. Published 24 June 2026.
Where to look: Printed page 206 (PDF page 210), Nelson Mandela Bay dashboard: 'Irregular expenditure over administration R6,81bn (4 years)'; 'Unauthorised expenditure over administration R3,16bn (3 years)'; 'Fruitless and wasteful expenditure over administration R0,08bn (4 years)'; 'Dealing with prior-year irregular expenditure balance R22,23bn Not dealt with'. Printed page 256 (PDF page 260), Eastern Cape section, 'Consequence management': 'Nelson Mandela Bay Metro has not investigated significant irregular and fruitless and wasteful expenditure dating back several years. This was due to inadequate capacitation of MPAC, political instability and vacancies in key senior positions.'
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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