Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) held its first virtual council meeting on 28 May during which the Executive Mayor tabled the 2020/ 21 reviewed draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and Annual Budget.
Accompanying these documents for tabling was the Medium Term, Revenue and Expenditure Framework (MTREF) 2020/202 for consideration as required by section 16 (2) and section 17 (3) of the Municipal Finance Management Act 56 of 2003.
The IDP is a very important public engagement process undertaken by the municipality to identify and prioritise the community’s needs, as well as recommend programmes and services to address these needs.
The proposed budget is based on prioritising key service delivery projects that seek to strike a balance between the development challenges of the historically disadvantaged areas, and the need to maintain, and where required, refurbish existing infrastructure in established areas.
MCLM proposes to spend over R3,2 billion – an increase of five per cent which is R154 228 million compared to the previous year.
This will see an operating surplus of R33 784 million, taking into account their projected revenue of over R3,4 billion.
“Our proposed capital budget has been estimated at R220 278 million, and will mainly respond to community issues raised during the Mayoral IDP Roadshows held in October and November 2019. Our communities in and around the city made tangible submissions to be considered and provided for in future budget allocations,” a communique from Mogale City’s communications department reads.
The following is a breakdown of the capital budget to be spent on some of the projects that will be undertaken in terms of the MTREF, largely in rural areas and previously disadvantaged communities of Mogale City which, according MCLM “… has been blatantly rejected by the DA and Freedom Front Plus in Council”.
- Construction of water pipeline and installation of communal standpipes in rural settlements – R25 200 000
- Magaliesburg transfer and recycling – R9 600 000
- Muldersdrift roads and storm water – R9 600 00
- Tarlton/ Brickvallei reservoir – R7 104 927
- Roads rehabilitation and resurfacing in Kagiso – R7 600 000
- Construction of Kagiso Elderly Service Centre – R10 000 000
- Refurbishment of Kagiso sports complex – R 1 500 000
- Rietvallei Ext 2 & 3 sports complex – R1 000 000
- Rietvallei roads and storm water – R10 000 000
- Resurfacing of Helena Street, and storm water in Munsieville Ext 4 – R3 000 000
- Integration of new reservoir substation supply into Munsieville – R1 000 000
- Electrification of Pangoville informal settlement ?-R12 800 000
- Robert Broom Drive widening phase 2 – R5 000 000
- Coronation Park development ? R10 000 000
- Development of Westheaven Cemetery – R4 000 000
The budget further provides for 8 705 households to be registered as indigents in the 2020/ 2021 financial year and to be provided with free basic services.
Savings will also be identified to fill all critical vacant positions, mostly in service delivery departments.
The electrification of Tarlton (Smoke Down settlement) and Orient Hills is addressed by other spheres of government through the provision of grants to Eskom to install electricity in targeted rural areas.
Subsequent to this budget being tabled, it should be made available for public consultation.
Once the Executive Mayor has considered the inputs from communities and different stakeholders, a final budget must be submitted to Council for consideration and approval a month before the start of the new financial year.
“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the municipality will not be able to undergo the normal process of public participation to engage communities on the draft budget and needs to be funded in the 2020 financial year. This is regulated by the Amended Directions issued on 7 May by the Minister of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, in terms of section 27 (2) of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002.
Directive 6.7.4 (b) stipulates that there is to be ensured that the communities are consulted using media platforms and alternative methods of consultation, instead of contact meetings, to provide comments on the draft IDP and Budget.
“Consequently, to comply with these Covid-19 regulations, the municipality will not hold mass public gatherings to garner public comments and input for the 2020?2021 municipal IDP and budget. The municipality will engage on remote platforms such as community radio discussions, setting up public engagement suggestion boxes that will be placed at ward offices and other high-traffic community venues, and via email. The public can also submit their inputs in writing.
“All members of the public are invited to inspect the 2020/ 21 reviewed Integrated Development Plan and Draft Annual Budget for MTREF for the 21-day statutory public comment period up until 18 June.
Copies of the Integrated Development Plan and Draft Annual Budget are available for public inspection on the municipal website and can also be sourced directly in hard copy from Mogale City officials (Tshepo.legodi@mogalecity.gov.za and aaron.tsoku@mogalecity.gov.za).
