Joburg audit setback exposes R9.5bn bad debt burden

Johannesburg’s financial crisis is deepening, with the Auditor-General revealing R9.5 billion in losses driven largely by electricity theft, water leaks and weak governance. An infrastructure backlog now estimated at R200 billion threatens service delivery in South Africa’s economic powerhouse. Analysts warn that years of poor oversight, mounting debt and a lack of accountability have left the city vulnerable to worsening power and water outages. With residents and businesses already feeling the strain, calls for urgent intervention are growing louder.