非洲警告称，不断上升的市政债务对公共财政构成日益增长的威胁，因为财务困难的城镇议会所欠款项持续攀升，且地方政府选举即将到来，并表示一项立法改革正在进行中，以解决这一问题。
Africa warned that rising municipal debt poses a growing threat to public finances, as the amount owed by financially distressed town councils continues to climb and local government elections loom, and said a legislative overhaul is under way to address the problem.
国家财政部周三发布的中期预算政策声明显示，截至6月止年度，市政当局欠债权人的债务增长19%，达到1852亿兰特（112亿美元）。地方和省级政府财务状况的恶化被确定为关键财政风险。
Debt owed by municipalities to creditors increased 19% to 185.2 billion rand ($11.2 billion) in the year through June, the National Treasury’s medium-term budget policy statement released Wednesday shows. The weakening finances of local and provincial governments were identified as a key fiscal risk.
财政部长伊诺克·戈东瓒瓦纳表示，许多市政当局的财务和运营表现不可持续。
The financial and operational performance of many municipalities was unsustainable, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said.
“这影响了基本服务的提供，”他说。“它破坏了经济活动。它还削弱了公众信心。”这一警告发布在投票前仅两周，该投票将成为公众对市政当局供水、供电及其他基本服务粗劣程度的愤怒风向标，这些市政当局长期受管理不善和财务控制不足的困扰。
“It affects the delivery of basic services,” he said. “It undermines economic activity. And it erodes public confidence.”The warning came just two weeks before a vote that will serve as a barometer of public anger over the slipshod provision of water, electricity and other basic services by municipalities that have been dogged by mismanagement and inadequate financial controls.
它们财务状况的恶化也对国有公司构成风险。电力部长科西恩特肖·拉莫克戈帕表示，仅欠电力公司埃斯科姆控股有限公司的逾期市政债务，到8月31日已攀升至1225亿兰特。埃斯科姆警告称，如果问题得不到解决，该数字可能在五年内膨胀至3000亿兰特。
The deterioration in their finances also poses risks for state-owned companies. Overdue municipal debt owed to power utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd. alone climbed to 122.5 billion rand by Aug. 31, according to Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. Eskom has warned the figure could swell to 300 billion rand within five years if the problem remains unresolved.
财政部表示，公共部门的财务困境可能会蔓延至国家资产负债表，因为埃斯科姆和其他实体可能需要额外资金和担保。该电力公司已获得2023年宣布的2300亿兰特债务减免计划中的2200亿兰特，以帮助稳定其财务状况，此前其借款急剧膨胀。
The Treasury said financial distress across the public sector could spill over onto the national balance sheet, because Eskom and other entities may require additional funding and guarantees. The power utility has already received 220 billion rand of a 230 billion rand debt-relief package announced in 2023 to help stabilize its finances after its borrowings ballooned.
为遏制不断增长的市政债务并限制更广泛的财政风险，财政部正提议对《市政财政管理法》进行二十多年来的首次重大修订。改革将使官员和政界人士对不合规支出承担个人责任，授权财政部任命市政首席财务官，并强制市政委员会对无资金保障的预算作出说明。
To contain growing municipal debt and limit broader fiscal risks, the Treasury is proposing the first major overhaul of the Municipal Finance Management Act in more than two decades. The reforms will make officials and politicians personally liable for irregular spending, empower the Treasury to appoint municipal chief financial officers and compel councils to account for unfunded budgets.