People’s expectations exceed TCM’s resources
She said it was true that Thaba Chweu Municipality continued to work with its communities to find sustainable and progressive ways to fulfil its social, economic and developmental needs in order to create a better life for all.
LYDENBURG – The mayor of Thaba Chweu Municipality (TCM), Ms Selina Mashego, recently delivered the municipality’s 2016/17 Integrated Development Planning (IDP) budget speech.
Mashego said that presenting the speech was indeed a great honour and a humbling experience.
“This year marks a year in which our term as council comes to an end. I will first like to appreciate the partnership between the municipality, communities and all various stakeholders who have been part of our IDP sessions throughout the term of council from 2011 to 2016.
Our municipality is located at a local sphere of government which is the coalface of service delivery of government. As the municipality we should interact with communities regularly as mandated by the constitution of the republic. We do this through the ward councillors, ward committee structures, community development workers and other special interaction from time to time especially those with civic organisations,” she said.
She said it was true that Thaba Chweu Municipality continued to work with its communities to find sustainable and progressive ways to fulfil its social, economic and developmental needs in order to create a better life for all.
“The council was elected in 2011 and had embarked on a process of formulating and reviewing its five-year IDP on an annual basis. The IDP implementation has encountered numerous challenges throughout the term of council because of minimal budget funding.
It is a reality that the expectations of our people far exceed the resources of the municipality. Despite these challenges mentioned above it is important to note that significant progress has been made during this term of council.”
She however emphasised that achievements like electrification of extensions, water supply and road maintenance were not enough and that TCM still strived to supply the bulk of this services to its people.
“The 2016-2021 IDP that we are approving today has highlighted the areas of service delivery that need more effort. The areas were highlighted by the communities themselves and the 2016/17/18 IDP that we are approving today is going to address some of these immediate service delivery challenges.”
Mashego said that the municipality’s audit opinion was an important barometer of public confidence in the management and administration of financial resources of the municipality.
“This municipality has in the past received disclaimers of opinion from the Auditor General because of the instability of our financial administration. We have to date put in place a corrective audit action plan to deal with issues raised by the Auditor General. This corrective action plan is monitored by the acting municipal manager, the audit committee, the monthly audit steering committee where I also sit and also by the mayoral committee on a monthly basis.”
Mashego said that TCM’s anticipated revenue for 2016/17 is R552 526 180.
“This is an increase of nine per cent from the 2015/16 budget. This anticipated revenue takes into account the economic times and circumstances that our communities and businesses alike are facing. Included in this revenue, the municipality is receiving operating grants of R118 547 000 from the National Treasury.
This accounts for 21 per cent of our total income. This means that the majority of our municipal revenue is generated from service charges and at this point we appeal to our communities to support us and pay for the services that they receive from the municipality.”
She said that due to inflation the municipality had increased the service tariffs for water, sanitation and refuse removal by seven per cent. Electricity will be increased by between 6,6 to 12 per cent pending the approval by NERSA. “The cost of electricity is becoming unaffordable and is creating a burden for communities and businesses.
The municipality has put in place the following social packages to cushion this pain and ensure that our services are affordable which include the indigent package for households earning less than two state pensions. These indigents will receive 50 kilowatts of free electricity, 10 kilolitres of water and sanitation, free refuse removal and no property rates,” said Mashego.
“The cost of electricity is becoming unaffordable and is creating a burden for communities and businesses. The municipality has put in place the following social packages to cushion this pain and ensure that our services are affordable which include the indigent package for households earning less than two state pensions. These indigents will receive 50 kilowatts of free electricity, 10 kilolitres of water and sanitation, free refuse removal and no property rates,” said Mashego.
Council has also decided not to affect any increase on the property rates in the 2016/17 financial year and furthermore a 55 per cent discount has also been considered.
On the expenditure side, council has budget for R499 990 which is an increase of four per cent from the 2015/16 financial year.
“Our capital expenditure is budgeted at R71 173 750. This capital program is funded by Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) and the Water Services Infrastructure Grant from the National Treasury.
Our capital programme is going to ensure basic service delivery in many areas that communities have indicated. This will range from roads, water, sport facilities, electricity, cemeteries, sanitation and planning for housing.”
Mashego said that TCM thanked the community and business for their support, its political leadership, the support from the district municipality and province thus far. “This IDP budget today results from a combination of efforts of all those listed above.”
