SINCE the establishment of the metro, the ANC is yet to deliver on all of its promises, according to the DA.
DA shadow MMC for finance, Clr Bruce Reid, was referring to the 2017 Ekurhuleni budget speech, which was delivered by finance MMC, Clr Doctor Xhakaza, on Thursday last week.
He described the budget speech as “very ambitious and pro-poor”, asking if the speech was a “last attempt by a very fragile coalition to stay in power”.
“We are spending over the National Treasury benchmark on upgrading and renewal of infrastructure. If we were spending the correct amount on maintenance, we would not find ourselves overspending,” said Reid.
According to Reid, capital projects are falling behind schedule and some have even failed to take off altogether due to a lack of accountability.
“The MMC for finance promises to spend 100 per cent of the capital budget. Strong words, considering that the ANC-run metro has not achieved close to spending anywhere near that percentage. Currently, in the third quarter of the 2016/17 financial year, the metro only spent 37.4 per cent of the capital budget. In December 2016, R345-million was returned as the metro was unable to spend it.”
Reid said the ANC’s promise to build 20 000 houses a year over the next five years, was unrealistic, seeing only 376 houses were built in the 2016/17 financial year.
“There is a current estimated backlog of 421 657 houses in Ekurhuleni. Without taking growth into account and assuming the metro could build 20 000 houses a year, it would take over 21 years to provide the houses.”
The DA noted the ANC’s intentions to have free water and sanitation only supplied to the poor. In order to monitor the supply of free water to all informal settlements, the DA suggested bulk water meters be installed.
“This will allow the water department to accurately record water losses that are unaccounted for and reflect the true state of our water infrastructure.”
With the promise to spend R655-m on the electrification of all informal settlements, the DA cautioned the ANC to implement strategies to avoid electricity distribution losses, including theft.
The DA supported the social development programmes, especially the ones to address youth unemployment and youth empowerment.
“We will, however, be auditing these programmes through the oversight committees to ensure the programmes were allocated freely and fairly to all Ekurhuleni residents.”
The DA said the over 2 500 vacant posts affected service delivery. Due to the vacancies, departments continually exceed their overtime budgets.
Service delivery is mostly affected in the metro police (295 vacancies), energy 159), facilities and real estate (350), health and social development (158), roads and storm water (126) and water and sanitation (213).
“As the Democratic Alliance, we believe this is a very ambitious budget and unattainable in the short term and we are certain the ANC-led administration will not be able to implement it,” Reid said.
