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Pray the News
The Herald 16 February 2026
Bay risks los­ing R440m in grants due to under­spend­ing

Abstract
The clock is tick­ing for the Bay muni­cip­al­ity’s human set­tle­ments dir­ect­or­ate with about 20 days remain­ing before the national depart­ment poten­tially revokes con­di­tional grant pay­ments totalling nearly half a bil­lion rand. The decision is in rela­tion to sig­ni­fic­ant under­spend­ing by the city of a pre­vi­ous tranche.
The depart­ment said in a let­ter, dated Feb­ru­ary 5, that the two pay­ments would be with­held related to the urban set­tle­ment devel­op­ment grant (USDG) and the informal set­tle­ments upgrad­ing part­ner­ship grant (ISUPG), totalling R305.4m and R135.5m, respect­ively. Respond­ing to the news, the muni­cip­al­ity said yes­ter­day its under­stand­ing was that it had a fur­ther 30 days to resolve the mat­ter.

The metro’s human set­tle­ments polit­ical head Them­binkosi Mafana said there were sev­eral reas­ons for the under­spend­ing. “There were a num­ber of con­trib­ut­ing factors which weren’t envis­aged ini­tially, such as the delays on EIA author­isa­tion so projects can start. “We are cur­rently in dis­cus­sion with the [pro­vin­cial envir­on­ment] depart­ment, with the pur­pose of unlock­ing some of the easy-to-do activ­it­ies, so expendit­ure can improve with mean­ing­ful ser­vice deliv­ery. ”He said the under­spend­ing by the metro was also due to a pending court rul­ing. “This is the mat­ter of the Walmer [town­ship] invaders that blocked an area of devel­op­ment in Air­port Val­ley. “The mat­ter has been with the court for so long, with no final rul­ing on it. ”He also poin­ted a fin­ger at the roads dir­ect­or­ate. “The expired con­tract by the roads depart­ment is also affect­ing us. “A con­tractor was not assigned work for wards 54 and 37, until it expired. “On this mat­ter, con­sequence man­age­ment must be imple­men­ted.” He said the total R439.9m from the USDG and ISUPG trans­fers that was being with­held would have been used to build infra­struc­ture. “The money was going to be used for infra­struc­ture devel­op­ment in Walmer, Mother­well, KwaN­obuhle and Jachtvlakte [in the north­ern areas].” Mafana said the metro was still con­vinced it could resolve the prob­lems and receive the con­di­tional grant fund­ing. “We have been given 30 days to do [a] turn­around, and we are busy with that. “The money has not yet been taken. It has been with­held.”

More Background
The reasons for the withholding of the nearly R440 million in conditional grants (R305.4m from the Urban Settlements Development Grant (USDG) and R135.5m from the Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant (ISUPG)) were outlined by the municipality's Human Settlements political head, Them binkosi Mafana, in response to the national Department of Human Settlements' February 5, 2026, letter. The municipality attributes the significant underspending primarily to the following factors:
  1. Delays in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) authorisation
    Projects could not start due to prolonged waits for EIA approvals from the provincial Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT). The municipality is in discussions to unlock "easy-to-do" activities and accelerate expenditure for meaningful service delivery.
  2. Pending court ruling on land invasions in Walmer (Airport Valley)
    Unlawful occupiers have blocked development in the Airport Valley area of Walmer township for an extended period. This has stalled infrastructure and housing projects, with no final court resolution yet, preventing progress on earmarked sites.
  3. Expired contract from the Roads Directorate
    An expired contractor agreement meant no work was assigned in certain wards (specifically mentioned as wards 54 and 37). This affected essential roads and related infrastructure needed to support human settlements projects. Mafana called for consequence management against those responsible in the roads directorate.
These issues collectively contributed to the metro's inability to spend the previous tranches effectively, leading the national department to withhold the next payments. The municipality maintains it has a window (claiming 30 days) to submit a turnaround plan and resolve matters to potentially release the funds, which were intended for infrastructure in areas like Walmer, Motherwell, KwaNobuhle, and Jachtvlakte. This fits a longer pattern of underspending on these grants in Nelson Mandela Bay, but the specific explanations above come directly from the municipality's official response as reported.

People to Pray for:
Alec Moemi - Department of Human Settlements Director General 
Them­binkosi Mafana​ - Nelson Mndela Bay Human Set­tle­ments Polit­ical Head

Prayer Guidelines

1. For environmental approvals, halting project starts, spending, and bureaucratic delays in EIA authorizations.
Pray for: Streamlined processes, divine timing, and alignment between national, provincial, and municipal levels.
Scripture: James 1:5 – "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we ask for supernatural wisdom and favor for the provincial DEDEAT officials reviewing EIAs. Accelerate approvals for "easy-to-do" activities, removing every obstacle so funds flow for service delivery. As in James 1:5, pour out Your generous wisdom on decision-makers. Unlock these projects swiftly, in Jesus' name. Amen.

2. For the pending court ruling on Walmer Airport Valley land invasions, and unlawful occupiers that are blocking development, with no resolution despite years of legal battles.
Pray for: Truth to prevail, protection for communities, and peaceful relocation where needed.
Scripture: Psalm 82:3-4 – "Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
Prayer: Righteous Judge, intervene in the courts regarding the Airport Valley invaders. Bring swift, just resolution that honors legal housing beneficiaries while protecting the vulnerable. Expose and dismantle every scheme of division or delay. As Psalm 82 declares, defend the poor and deliver Your people from oppression. Restore order and enable development to proceed. Amen.

3. For Administrative Failures and Expired Contracts (e.g., Roads Directorate). Lapsed agreements stalling infrastructure, calling for "consequence management" and better leadership.
Pray for: Integrity in leadership, efficient inter-directorate collaboration, and zero tolerance for waste.
Scripture: Proverbs 21:1 – "In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him."
Prayer: Lord of all authority, turn the hearts of municipal leaders and directors like a river. Expose negligence in contracts and procurement, raising up accountable stewards who execute with excellence. Grant wisdom for consequence management and fresh tenders. As Proverbs 21:1 says, channel every decision toward Your purposes for the Bay's prosperity. Amen.

4. For Overall Grant Release and Community Transformation. The R440m at risk, meant for roads, services, and housing, amid chronic underspending.
Pray for: National department favor, full expenditure by deadline, and tangible impact on residents' lives.
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14 – "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."Prayer: Merciful God, we humble ourselves as Your people for the sins of mismanagement and division in our city. Forgive, heal, and release these conditional grants for the good of the least of these. Turn around the underspending crisis, bringing revival to human settlements. As in 2 Chronicles 7:14, heal our land and let Your kingdom come in Nelson Mandela Bay. Amen.
Pray for: National department favor, full expenditure by deadline, and tangible impact on residents' lives.

Prayer:
We come before You for Nelson Mandela Bay, where withheld grants threaten homes, roads, and dignity for the vulnerable in Walmer, Motherwell, KwaNobuhle, and Jachtvlakte. As Psalm 82:3-4 says, defend the weak and deliver the needy from oppression. Forgive our mismanagement and division, and heal our land as promised in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Pour out Your generous wisdom (James 1:5) on provincial, municipal, and national leaders. Accelerate EIA approvals, remove bureaucratic delays, and unlock projects quickly. In the Walmer Airport Valley court case, bring swift justice and resolution, restoring order so development can proceed. Turn the hearts of leaders like streams of water (Proverbs 21:1). Expose negligence, raise accountable stewards, and enable efficient action so contracts and infrastructure move forward. Lord, release the R440 million in grants for the good of the least of these. Turn around this crisis within the remaining days and do a new thing (Isaiah 43:19). May Your kingdom come in Nelson Mandela Bay—bringing justice, revival, and transformation. In Jesus’ mighty name,
Amen.

Listen to the prayer here
 

Todays Scripture Chest

Compiled by GAP Ministries
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