The City of Johannesburg has secured a loan of R3.8 billion aimed at addressing its electricity issues. The funds will be used to tackle the backlog in maintenance and major capital works, which is expected to take time to resolve.

The South African government is reportedly implementing stricter financial measures on metropolitan municipalities, as indicated by the Treasury's recent actions. The effectiveness of these measures in addressing the financial challenges faced by these municipalities remains uncertain, raising concerns about potential negative impacts on the municipalities themselves, according to The Citizen.

As South Africa's 2026 local government elections approach, municipal finances in major metros are facing growing scrutiny. According to IOL, the country's biggest cities are imposing varying tariff increases on residents while struggling with mounting debt, infrastructure backlogs and intensifying service delivery pressures. The combination of higher bills and unresolved service challenges is expected to shape voter sentiment as municipalities head toward the polls.

South Africa has secured a $1 billion loan from the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) aimed at upgrading infrastructure across its eight metropolitan areas. This funding is part of the NDB's efforts to support development projects in member countries.

The City of Ekurhuleni's revised R71 billion budget has been passed after the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front Plus (FF+) voted in favor, despite their previous opposition. They argued that failing to pass the budget could have led to the metro entering administration, which would have resulted in oversight by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

South Africa's governing African National Congress has unveiled a six-point action plan ahead of the 2026 local government elections, according to TimesLIVE. The plan reportedly focuses on improving service delivery, attracting investment and strengthening community safety, key issues for voters in municipal areas. The announcement signals the party's early campaign positioning as it seeks to shore up support at local level following declining electoral performance in recent years. Further details of the plan's implementation were not disclosed in the report.