According to Sowetan, South Africa's major cities are struggling with financial management, as highlighted by auditor-general Tsakani Maluleke. She warns that deteriorating governance, failing service delivery, and significant losses due to irregular expenditure pose a threat to the country's sustainability.

Auditor-General Tsakani Maluleke has reported concerning declines in the financial health and service delivery of South Africa's eight largest municipalities, highlighting the need for immediate action to address these issues.

The Auditor-General has reported that the financial situation in Johannesburg requires immediate attention, noting a general regression in audit outcomes among metropolitan areas.

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).

The Auditor-General has released a report indicating poor financial management in municipalities, marking the first issuance of a certificate of debt to recover financial losses from a municipal accounting officer. Additionally, 76 municipal officials have been referred for investigation due to these financial discrepancies, highlighting ongoing issues in municipal governance, according to Moneyweb.

The City of Johannesburg has decided to write off approximately R918 million in historical irregular and unauthorized expenditures, which has led to a debate among councillors regarding governance and accountability. Leaders from ActionSA and the DA have raised concerns about financial mismanagement, while the ANC defends the decision as a necessary measure to address past issues.