Chunk of Tshwane budget goes to township upgrades

The Tshwane metro has dedicated a chunk of its budget to township rejuvenation with priority given to Hammanskraal.

Delivering his budget speech, finance MMC Peter Sutton said the metro needed to act quickly to deal with the community’s challenges.

“We need to be responsive to these problems. I would like to highlight a few of the capital investments we will make in this next financial year as part of our process to address the needs of our communities,” Sutton said.

He said during the metro’s integral development plan (IDP) councillors heard a lot of complaints about the lack of the municipal refuse collection.

According to the MMC, capital investment in the current financial year is R2.35-billion, adding that the focus would be to address inequality in townships.

Sutton said the metro would also focus on improving municipal revenue collection.

The Mamelodi flood victims are among those who would benefit from the budget, as R285-million of it was set aside for the acquisition of Pienaarspoort land.

NATIONAL TREASURY ASSURES MONEY FOR INVESTMENT

He said National Treasury has given assurance that the money will be made available.

“The city has received written confirmation from National Treasury that this has been granted.”

Sutton, however, said there were various investments the metro had planned for the current financial year. He furthermore said taking into consideration the latest developments in Hammanskraal, the metro was looking at diverting funds to Rooiwal.

“I will, however, highlight a few aspects from the draft capital investment list that target areas that are underdeveloped and have some of our poorest communities.

“We have identified over 20 communities spread across Tshwane towards which we will drive investment,” said the MMC.

COMMUNITIES MENTIONED

For Soshanguve, R42.6-million has been set aside to maintain and upgrade roads and stormwater in extension 19, block FF area 4 and block L area 3, as well as the construction of a 10km overhead power line for block JJ.

Sutton also said there would be sewer and water reticulation to 80 stands in block MM, which will include the completion and handover of roads and stormwater infrastructure in extension 12 and 13.

In Winterveldt, the metro will invest R16.6-million in preparation for a concrete canal, water reticulation, roads and stormwater.

In Mamelodi, there will be an investment of R88.6-million in water reticulation for 512 stands in extension 6. As well as:

– sewer reticulation for 532 stands in Phomolong
– the development of Mamelodi hostels
– addressing flooding backlogs
– water and sanitation installation of 984m of steel pipe in extension 11
– the upgrade of Buitekant Street and
– work at Denneboom depot and the Denneboom intermodal facility.

In Pretoriuspark, the metro will invest R3.4-million in preparation for water and sewer provision.

In Refilwe Manor, there will be an investment of R17.3-million:

– to complete the electrical and mechanical fittings at sewer pump stations.

– water provision in extension 7 and 10

– the construction of sewer reticulation for 400 stands and water reticulation to 30 stands in extension 7 and 10 and

– roads and stormwater in extension 9 and Refilwe.

In Fort West, R4.1 million will be invested in:

– sewer provision in extension 4 and 5

– the construction of roads and stormwater

– a bulk reservoir and water provision in extension 4.

For Olievenhoutbosch, an investment of R30.7-million has been set aside to build roads and stormwater drains as well as the construction of a 1.5km bulk water supply line in extension 60.

An amount of R8.1-million will go into the construction of roads and stormwater drains in Ga-Rankuwa and water provision to extension 10, sewer reticulation and internal roads in Zone 4 and 5.

Mabopane will received an investment of R21.5-million for:

– Mabopane extension 2

– flooding backlog in extension 1

– upgrading 1km of road in block A

– water provision in extension 12

– 3km of road resurfacing in extension 1 and

– resurfacing internal roads in block R.

Zithobeni would also get an injection of R57.1-million for a bulk water line in extensions 8 and 9 for a bulk water connection to 809 stands, sewer provision, roads, and stormwater drainage.

Sutton said R4-million will be dedicated to Gatsebe water and sewer reticulation.

In Saulsville, R2-million would be used to prepare for the development of Saulsville hostels, a project which he said was long overdue.

An amount of R7.5-million will be set aside for Stinkwater and Rama City – of which R500 000 will go towards flooding in Stinkwater and R7-million for sewer provision, pipe jacking to 1 608 stands in Rama City.

ALSO READ: Metro not sure when the Rooiwal water treatment plant will be operational

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