Opinion

Starving the Beast: Why Treasury’s War on Corruption is Leaving South Africans Thirsty

As Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announces that National Treasury is withholding critical budget allocations to sixty-nine failing municipalities, South Africa's fiscal discipline has hit a brutal physical barrier. Coinciding with Africa Public Service Day in Durban, this aggressive stance on municipal corruption is designed to enforce accountability. But as we turn off the financial taps to punish bankrupt local councils, we must confront the reality on the ground: the poorest citizens are the ones who will pay for this integrity with dry water pipes.