February 25, marked the first council meeting for Umtshezi Municipality for the year 2015. The notice of the meeting was read by the Municipal Manager; where after the National Anthem was sung followed by other formalities.

The council listened attentively to statements and communication by the Speaker, Cesar Nunes who made the council aware of upcoming meetings and workshops as well as matters, which required their input. Mr Nunes also urged councillors to listen to the Budget Speech later that day, and also encouraged them to read and familiarise themselves with the Bill of Rights. Councillor Magubane read the Council’s Clean Administration and Audit commitment.

Moments thereafter a report on 2014/2015’s Adjustment Budget was circulated. Mayor Bongani Dalmini commented that the municipality is facing financial challenges, like many other municipalities do. He added that community projects should be complete with the budget allocated, without adjusting the time period for its completion or its budget.

He said that in the near future basic services such as mowing overgrown grass, which requires no finance as the municipality has the equipment and staff, should be attended to. Besides office consumables, which the municipality requires to function, community projects are mainly responsible for many of the adjustments made to the budget. Although council isn’t pleased with adjustment budget they approved it and are hoping for a better financial year this year.