JOHANNESBURG - The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse believes that if Joburg fails, a large percentage of South Africa's economy also fails.
Outa CEO Wayne Duvenage said years of poor financial management and a lack of accountability have left the city in trouble.
National Treasury has stepped in and withheld July funding to 69 municipalities countrywide over unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
The move is aimed at instilling fiscal discipline.
“If Joburg fails, you know, with 16, 17% of the national economy, this is serious. It has the economy of some small countries. It's going to have a massive impact on the economy of South Africa, which is why it does need to be addressed meaningfully.
“But what's happening is that Dada Morero and the City of Joburg are not taking this seriously. There's pressure brought to them by Treasury.
“There's been no accountability and that's what Treasury is asking as well. Show us how you've held anybody accountable for the mismanagement of the finances. So yeah, we're in a bad situation and it needs to be treated, taken seriously and I think what Treasury's doing,” Duvenage said.