NMBM ADJUSTMENT BUDGET PRIORITISES PREVIOUSLY DISADVANTAGED AREAS
Published: March 10, 2026<< BACK TO NEWS
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Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality remains focused on the redress of the imbalances of the past through an 80–20 budget framework that prioritises previously disadvantaged areas of the Metro.
In line with Section 28 of the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA), Act 56 of 2003, which makes provision for municipalities to revise their budgets through an Adjustment Budget to respond to changing circumstances and service delivery priorities during the financial year, the Metro has ensured that allocations continue to address historical inequalities.
This was confirmed through the ward-based budget allocation of the recently approved Adjustment Budget. Of the R879,575,971 that has been allocated to the 60 wards, 82 percent has been directed towards previously disadvantaged wards.
An allocation of 30.8 percent has been directed to the Champion Galela Cluster, while the Zola Nqini Cluster, which includes wards in Kariega and Despatch, has received an allocation of 19.9 percent, followed by the Lilian Diedericks Cluster, which covers wards in the Northern Areas, receiving 18.4 percent.
The Alex Matikinca Cluster, which covers wards in Motherwell and Wells Estate, has been allocated 13.4 percent.
The Govan Mbeki Cluster, which covers wards in New Brighton and KwaZakhele, received 8.2 percent, with the remaining 9.2 percent allocated to the Molly Blackburn Cluster, which covers suburban areas.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality's 60 wards are grouped into six clusters, namely:
- Molly Blackburn – Suburban areas
- Lilian Diedericks – Northern Areas
- Govan Mbeki – New Brighton / KwaZakhele
- Champion Galela – Zwide / KwaDwesi
- Alex Matikinca – Motherwell / Wells Estate
- Zola Nqini – Kariega / Despatch
The budget allocation includes funding for key service delivery interventions such as the repair and maintenance of sanitation infrastructure, refuse collection services, the development and upkeep of parks and cemeteries, repair of potholes and roads, road markings and walkways, maintenance and fixing of streetlights, as well as the upgrading of water and electricity infrastructure such as pump stations and substations.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor Babalwa Lobishe said the budget allocation speaks directly to the historical imbalances that the Metro continues to confront.
"As a municipality, we have a huge task of correcting the imbalances of the past. Our people were subjected to sub-standard services and infrastructure that were close to non-existent. We therefore have to be bold enough to invest more in order to change this historic picture,” said Executive Mayor Lobishe.
The Executive Mayor said the budget was also reflective of the contributions made by residents and stakeholders during the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and Budget Public Participation meetings.
"In all our engagements across the Metro, it became clear that there is still a significant amount of work that needs to be done to improve the lives of our people. This is reflected in the ward-based budget allocations that the Council has approved,” added Executive Mayor Lobishe.
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