THE DA has called Ekurhuleni’s 2016 Budget Speech repetitive and tiresome, saying the MMC for Finance had not embraced the radical thinking needed in these tough times to drive the metro forward.
This follows MMC of Finance Moses Makwakwa’s delivery on Thursday last week (April 28) at the Aberton City Council.
During his announcement, he said that over R3 billion had been set aside to develop Ekurhuleni’s local economies for the upcoming financial year.
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The city is continuing with the advancement and radical economic transformation that supports local economies and inclusive growth. As a result, R3.5 billion will be pumped into the Community Empowerment Package, namely the Mintirho Ya Vulavula.
“The people of Ekurhuleni can rest assured that our commitment to building local economy through increasing procurement opportunities, job creation and reducing unemployment and poverty within the city is unwavering,” Makwawa said during his speech.
With this money the city plans, among other things, to expand procurement spent to youth-owned entities, solidify the foundation and growth of Vukuphile learner contractors as well as change the outlook of the metro’s townships through the Lungile Mtshali Community Development Project and other community works programmes.
To re-industrialise corridors, R211 million has been set aside to drive economic development and R78 million of that budget will go towards promoting township economies through the tourism and industrial sectors.
More than R500 million has been allocated for the construction and upgrading of community facilities, and the acquisition of emergency services vehicles.
Townships such as Kempton’s Esselen Park, Duduza and Lindelani Ext 9 will soon have new clinics and new swimming pools will be built in Kempton, Bokburg, Daveyton, Duduza and Van Dyk Park. There will be R97 million spent on upgrading and rehabilitating community libraries, while Bonaero Park and Etwatwa will get new libraries.
The city’s ambulance fleet will be replenished with about 50 new vehicles.
Taking into consideration the safety and security of the people of Ekurhuleni, the city will fund the employment of an additional 450 police officers.
“During this office we also managed to maintain very solid financial results, grow our capital infrastructure programme and increase our repairs and maintenance,” Makwakwa announced.
Over R4 billion was spent on infrastructure and maintenance, including upgrading water networks, replacing water pipes, installing meters in un-metered areas and new meters under the water loss eradication programme as well as upgrading of outflow sewer pipeline and network. A further R4.7 billion went to the construction and maintenance of roads and storm water systems.
However, the DA is not at all optimistic about this budget, calling it repetitive and accusing the metro of failing to address the major issues.
The DA’s Finance Shadow MMC Eddie Taylor claims the city’s infrastructure maintenance is in fact deteriorating faster than it can be repaired.
“This is nothing less than bad management and it is rapidly getting to the point where assets will start collapsing. At that point they will have to be replaced at much higher costs than if they had been properly maintained,” Taylor said.
He continued: “These problems could be overcome if the mayor aggressively recruited competent engineers and technicians to undertake this work.”
