A whopping R661m for better services
"This is the largest budget the municipality has ever received since its establishment in the 2000. It is a clear indication that we are serious in changing the outlook of Tubatse and to better the lives of our people," said Mamekoa.
BURGERSFORT – The Greater Tubatse Municipality (GTM) mayor, Cllr Ralepane Mamekoa tabled a whopping R661 million for services in the area. This was revealed during the state of local municipality address at Ga-Mashabela Village on June 13.
“This is the largest budget the municipality has ever received since its establishment in the 2000. It is a clear indication that we are serious in changing the outlook of Tubatse and to better the lives of our people,” said Mamekoa.
“Our IDP and budget for the 2015/16 financial year stand at R661 million. The total budget comprises the following: capital budget R 290 million and operational budget R371 million.”
Mamekoa mentioned that the capital budget was funded as follows: R65 million for municipal-infrastruture grant funding, R70 million for electrification, R130 million for the purchasing of a civic centre. An amount of R25 million would be spent on office equipment, plant and equipment, parks and nursery, radio communications, animal pounds, vehicle pound and air-quality-management centre. It was also heard that more households would be electrified.
“In the last financial year we promised to implement Operation Mabone to accelerate the provision of power in the villages and we are proud to announce that the project is now implemented and more than
13 000 households will be electrified come September.”
The villages to be electrified are Kutullo, Koppie, Mapareng, Kgopaneng, Buffelshoek, Kalkfontein, Barelong, Dibakwane, Maphutle, Kampeng, Mandela Park, France, Leboeng, Dithamaga, Taung, Malaeneng, Sekopung, Makofane, Pidima, Matokomane, Makotaseng, and Praktiseer extensions 3 and 11.
According to the mayor, the second phase would include areas such as Bothashoek and Ga-Mashamothane.
“Council adopted a resolution to include all villages that are not covered in the original contract of Operation Mabone. We are lobbying national departments such as treasury, to pledge for funding of electrification for the remaining villages,” Mamekoa said.
According to the mayor, Eskom had committed 320 units which would include the electrification of Legabeng in Mapodile township, Ga-Komane in Leolo and Mashifane Park.
“We are also engaging mining companies in the area of Ngwaabe to fund power for households in Ga-Masha Matakakatela and Ga-Maphopha areas.
The mayor shared his displeasure about the service-delivery protests in Tubatse. “We are disappointed that most of our roads have been damaged by burnt tyres and we cannot condone such senseless acts.
“As a growing economy we must create an atmosphere that is conducive to investment. With the blockade of the roads and the burning of cars and trucks, we are chasing investors away and our vision of reducing unemployment and poverty would not be realised,” he said.
Mamekoa also talked at length about the water challenges in the Tubatse area. “We would like to thank the Sekhukhune District Municipality by continuing to support us through water and sanitation projects.
They will implement water-reticulation projects at Driekop, Ga-Riba, River Cross, Madiseng, Mandela, Dilokong Hospital, Moroke, Ga-Selala, Podile, Sehunyane, Ga-Mashishi, Ga-Maphopha, Praktiseer and Mooihoek bulk water schemes. Mamekoa promised that the problems in Tubatse would be history after the completion of the De Hoop Dam pipeline.
“In the same breath we are happy to report that all wards in Tubatse will benefit from the VIP toilets sanitation programme.
“We hope the budget will go a long way in addressing the basic needs that are at the heart of our communities,” he added.
Mamekoa said the municipality’s operational budget would be utilised for administrative issues, payment of salaries, payment of ward committees stipend, planning and development, good governance, repairs and maintenance.
“Our duty is to bring dignity and confidence to our people and as Nelson Mandela once said that when a man was denied the right to live the life he believed in, he had no choice but to become an outlaw. In that same breath we cannot wait for the communities to protest before we deliver services. It is our responsibility and we must do so,” he said. Mamekoa acknowledged that GTM had not obtained a good audit from the Auditor General in the 2013/14 financial year. “We are positive that 2014/15 Auditor General outcomes will be positive. We have made an appeal to our staff to work in earnest to make sure services are delivered to the intended constituencies,” he concluded.
