POLOKWANE – Residents and businesspeople from the city cluster of the Polokwane Municipality arrived in their numbers to be briefed on the municipality’s Draft IDP/Budget for 2026/27 at a public participation meeting held at the Jack Botes hall last Thursday evening (April 9).

The city cluster comprises Wards 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 39 and similar briefing sessions with other clusters were scheduled and the input received will be considered before the final IDP/Budget is tabled in council for approval before July 1.

Executive director for community services, Edward Hutamo, presented the IDP on behalf of city manager Thuso Nemugumoni.

He said that the city is currently 35% urbanised, while 65% is still rural and that this indicates that a large percentage of the city’s communities are still facing a basic services backlog, especially on roads.

R688m budgeted for wastewater treatment works

Hutamo highlighted some of the projects and said R500 000 was budgeted for completion and commissioning of the Sand River Water Treatment Works.

Another R500 000 for the completion of the bulk lines at the Sand River North Wellfields, and R5 591 997 is set aside for securing the Sand River South and North boreholes.

Sanitation is a priority and R688 100 000 is budgeted for the construction of the civil, mechanical and electrical works of the 20Ml Regional Waste Water Treatment Works.

Energy Services will receive R27.5m for the construction of the Matlala substation.

R6m for solar street lights in city cluster

The good news for residents in the city cluster is that the municipality budgeted more than R6m for solar street lights in some areas, as well as R12.5m for maintenance of existing lights, while for the CBD, with more than R43m destined for maintenance and rehabilitation of streets.

Group chief finance officer Thabo Nonyane provided insight into the proposed budget and tariffs for the 2026/27 financial year that will start on July 1.

Water remains the city’s top priority

After the presentations, residents and stakeholders of Wards 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 39 had an opportunity to meet with their ward councillors and present their needs lists.

It appeared that essential services such as water and sanitation, electricity, maintenance of roads and street lights were the main concerns, and after reporting back to the meeting, Mayor John Mpe assured residents that their concerns would be taken into account.

Mpe assured that the municipality is always working towards the improvement of its performance and reminded that the economy of Limpopo resides in Polokwane.

“If Polokwane succeeds, the province succeeds,” Mpe said and added that provision of adequate and sustainable water is still the city’s top priority.

“We engaged with Lepelle Northern Water and authorities at the highest level and are in the process of finalising a new service level agreement with our bulk supplier that will ensure that the deliverables are delivered. If they don’t deliver, we will withhold payment,” the mayor assured.

The complete draft IDP/Budget is available on the municipality’s website.