SALGA says the release of withheld municipal funds will safeguard essential services [SOUND]

# The South African Local Government Association says National Treasury’s decision to release the remaining 7.1-billion-rand in withheld July equitable share transfers will help protect critical municipal services while reinforcing the need for accountability. Treasury acknowledged that communities should not be subjected to undue hardship due to municipal officials’ governance failures. SALGA’s spokesperson, Motalatale Modiba, says while withholding transfers may encourage financial compliance, such measures must be carefully balanced against the constitutional obligation to ensure uninterrupted service delivery: