The Democratic Alliance in Mpumalanga has urged the provincial MEC for Cooperative Governance, Traditional Affairs and Human Settlements to investigate and address high vacancy rates at several local municipalities, warning that large numbers of unfilled posts are undermining service delivery and economic functioning.
Large vacancy lists cited in annual reports
In a statement released on 28 August, DA spokesperson on CoGHSTA James Masango said municipal annual reports for 2024/25 show substantial staffing gaps in a number of councils. The DA highlighted the City of Mbombela, Dr JS Moroka and Mkhondo as municipalities with very high numbers of vacant positions, and referred to a Corporate Services report indicating significant vacancies in Thaba Chweu.
| Municipality | Reported vacant posts (2024/25) |
|---|---|
| City of Mbombela | 603 |
| Dr JS Moroka | 395 |
| Mkhondo | 428 |
| Thaba Chweu (Corporate Services report) | 130 |
DA links vacancies to poor service delivery and investor confidence
The DA says the vacancies span key departments including Technical Services, Corporate Services, Community Development and Economic Development. According to the party, these departments are critical to delivering basic services and enabling economic activity; without staff in place, municipalities will be unable to perform essential functions effectively.
- The party called on the MEC of CoGHTSA, Speedy Mashilo, to review organisational structures where high vacancy rates exist.
- It stressed the need for merit-based appointments to attract private investment and strengthen local economies.
- The DA also criticised what it described as a prevalence of political appointments under the current administration, saying this has weakened municipal capacity.
Political accountability and the local employment context
Mpumalanga residents face high unemployment, and the DA said it is unacceptable that municipalities report such large numbers of vacant posts while jobs are scarce. The party argued that filling vacancies would both improve service delivery and create employment opportunities.
The statement framed the issue as one of governance and administrative efficiency, calling for urgent corrective measures so municipalities can operate at full capacity. The DA also suggested consequences for poor performance and emphasised recruiting skilled personnel to fast‑track service delivery.
What this means for residents
For ordinary residents, prolonged vacancies in technical and community departments can mean slower responses to infrastructure breakdowns, delays in service connections, weaker maintenance of roads and public facilities, and limited support for local economic development programmes. The DA warned that these outcomes will damage the ability of municipalities to attract investors and sustain local jobs.
The party said it is prepared to take steps to rebuild municipal administrations and end what it described as cadre deployment, though it did not set out a detailed implementation plan in the release.
Next steps and accountability
The DA has formally requested that the MEC review municipal organisational charts and prioritise the filling of critical posts. The party's call places responsibility on the provincial department to scrutinise appointment processes, resource allocations and human resource plans across affected municipalities.
At time of publication the provincial department had not issued a response to the DA's statement. Residents and stakeholders will be watching for any announcements on recruitment drives, restructured organisational charts or targeted interventions to address the staffing shortfalls.
With provincial elections and ongoing economic pressures, municipal capacity will remain a central issue for communities dependent on timely and reliable local government services.
Nomsa Mahlangu
Mpumalanga Correspondent (Mbombela)
