By REGINALD KANYANE
8 October 2025- The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Western Cape welcomes the recent approval of the Financial Recovery Plan (FRP) for Theewaterskloof Municipality by the Western Cape Government. The plan represents a decisive step towards restoring stability, accountability and service delivery in a municipality that has faced severe financial and governance collapse under the previous ANC-led administration.
DA Western Cape spokesperson on Finance and Budget, Leon van Wyk said Theewaterskloof was once a financially sound municipality, collecting over 95% of its revenue in 2022/23 and maintaining a healthy surplus. Van Wyk said within just two years, however, the municipality’s finances deteriorated dramatically.
“Collection rates dropped to 64%, debt to Eskom ballooned above R50 million and critical oversight structures such as the Municipal Public Accounts Committee were left inactive. These failures were the result of political instability, poor financial controls, and the capture of municipal administration.
“The approved Financial Recovery Plan will help reverse this decline. It sets out a phased approach to rebuild cash flow, strengthen financial systems, and restore public confidence. The plan will also focus on long-term sustainability by embedding sound financial management practices and improving service delivery capacity,” he said.
Van Wyk further said this intervention reflects the DA-led Western Cape Government’s commitment to responsible and proactive oversight. He added that where the ANC allowed collapse, the DA acted to rebuild.
“The work now being done in Theewaterskloof is proof that disciplined financial management and clear governance systems are the foundation of better services and stronger communities.
“The Financial Recovery Plan is a necessary and welcome measure to correct years of mismanagement. By enforcing fiscal discipline and rebuilding proper governance, we can restore trust in local government and ensure that residents receive the reliable services they deserve,” said van Wyk.
He said the DA will continue to monitor this process closely to make sure this recovery plan delivers change on the ground.
The Guardian 