uThukela District Municipality, under the leadership of Mayor Siphiwe Mazibuko, reached out to the communities regarding the Draft IDP Budget 2018/19 through a series of public meetings that commenced on April 10 and concluded on April 13 across all three local municipalities.
Two road-shows were conducted in each municipality per day respectively. Mayor Mazibuko invited all members of the public to be the part of the IDP Budget process for the 2018/2019 financial year, which included traditional leaders, ward committees, community development workers, community care givers, NGOs, sector departments (including organised business rent payers and farmers’ associations) to form part of these meetings.
Mayor Siphiwe Mazibuko, Deputy Mayor Cllr NW Sibiya, Speaker Cllr DCP Mazibuko and Exco member Cllr MV Khumalo, as well as councillors and an administrative team embarked on public meetings to table the Draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and Budget.
The purpose of the road-shows was to present the 2018/19 Draft Budget and to inform the public about the municipality’s achievements and projects that have been implemented in the previous financial years.
These public meetings are mandated by the Local Government Systems Act and call for municipalities to encourage and create conditions for the local community to participate in the affairs of the municipality.
The road-shows therefore serve as the forum of engaging and listening to the views of the communities and business sectors and in order to implement the budget accordingly.
“It is no secret that the municipality’s financial state is not all that good, but we have put together plans and strategies to help improve the situation. This is in line with the municipality’s initiative in encouraging public participation in the municipality’s budget allocations and to promote transparency as well as encourage the culture of saving,” said Mayor Mazibuko.
The mayor informed stakeholders that the district is faced with challenges of aging infrastructure. He also said that there was a plan to have Water Boards in all provinces, including the KwaZulu-Natal province. The mayor mentioned that the district has a responsibility of maintaining and upgrading existing bulk infrastructure.
“It is imperative that we provide people with dignified basic services through infrastructure, water and sanitation. There are areas in some parts of the district that have been identified for infrastructure development which will assist the community to receive clean and potable water and hygienic sanitation,” concluded the mayor.
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