National government will continue to fund municipalities so that they could maintain infrastructure, despite the fact that four big metros are no longer under the rule of the governing party, said Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Jeff Radebe.

Radebe was briefing the media on key decisions taken, following a three-day cabinet lekgotla last week.

Asked if national government was concerned about the fact that other political parties are at the helm in some of the big metros – Tshwane, Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela Bay – Radebe said the status quo regarding funding prevails.

“We’ll ensure that we keep on pumping resources into municipal infrastructure,” Radebe said. “Currently, R1.3trn worth of assets are under jeopardy if they’re not maintained soon. The financial asset management of these municipalities need to be strengthened.”

Radebe emphasised that the “change of guard” at certain municipalities who are under coalition control does not affect the goals set out in the National Development Plan (NDP).

“Government is supporting all spheres of government. We still support these metros. It’s not about the votes, but about changing lives,” he said.

Reporting by Liesl Peyper