South Africa's economic powerhouse is facing uncomfortable questions about its financial health. The City of Johannesburg has long battled service delivery failures, aging infrastructure, water shortages
and deteriorating roads, but according to Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts Chairperson, Songezo Zibi, the city's biggest problem may not be how much money it owes—it's how much money residents owe the city. The Auditor-General has painted a troubling picture of a municipality operating on what have been described as false assurances about its finances, while critical infrastructure projects have reportedly been delayed because of cash-flow constraints. So how does a city with one of the country's largest revenue bases find itself struggling to deliver basic services? Is the issue poor financial management, a culture of non-payment, or a combination of both? And what does this mean for the future of Johannesburg and other municipalities facing similar challenges across South Africa?