Buffalo City Metro communities are beginning to feel the pain of the city’s spending cuts after it pulled the plug on its multimillion-rand ward-based projects. According to the ward allocation programmes report, seen by the Dispatch, 14 wards had not touched their millions by the time the freeze was implemented towards the end of 2023, while others managed to spend between R6,000 and R900,000 per ward.
Buffalo City Metro’s financial woes have compromised its operations and put critical services at risk.The city is so cash-strapped that, according to sources, transactions on its petrol cards used by some traffic officers have been rejected in recent weeks, with no remaining credit at some filling stations because of unpaid bills.
East London residents say they are being terrorised by vagrants and criminals who make bases in the city's many derelict and abandoned houses, with little being done to address the situation.
The Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality has activated its disaster management teams - including fire services, traffic services and law enforcement - following floods caused by heavy rains in the area.
The ANC seemed poised to sweep to victory in Buffalo City Metro last night, with the latest tally showing the party well on its way to winning 43 of the city ’s 50 wards in Monday’s local poll, but losing two wards to the DA including ward 3, home of provincial chair and premier Oscar Mabuyane.