Govan Mbeki municipal residents can expect a hike in rates
Council is conducting draft budget consultation meetings in various wards.
eMBALENHLE – The Govan Mbeki Municipality tabled it 2015/16 draft budget to the residents of Ward 29 and 32 on Thursday, 16 April.
The draft budget comprises R1.61 billion for operating expenditure and R1.65 million for capital investment programmes.
The total operating income budget is R1.65 billion, resulting in an operating surplus of R47 million.
Repairs and maintenance were allocated R66 million of which R15 million was allocated for road maintenance, R19 million for electricity, R19 million for water and sanitation, R8 million for other infrastructure, R3 million for community and R2 million for other assets.
The upgrading of the Kinross Waste Water Treatment Works of the eMbalenhle Waste Water Treatment Plant, the conversion of VIP toilets in Extensions 5, 6 and 10 in eMzinoni and Extension 25 in Kinross and the installation of boreholes in the rural area are the main projects in the draft budget.
Mr Robert Mashiane, Regional Manager, urged residents to take part in the budget process.
“Remember this is a draft, if you have concerns or you need clarity, this is your platform to voice it.
“Your input is crucially important in guiding this draft budget.”
He presented the draft budget and the proposed tariff increases were as follows:
* Property Rates
Residential 6 per cent increase
Commercial 6 per cent increase
* Electricity
12.69 per cent as per Nersa guidelines
* Water and Sanitation
1 per cent town cleaning
2.5 per cent landfill site rehabilitation
* Miscellaneous
6 per cent increase
Residents seemed to be not satisfied with the proposed hikes, especially on electricity and waste management.
The concern was mostly about the fact that the municipality is among the 20 defaulting municipalities.
“We heard on the news that the municipality owes Eskom, but electricity rates keep increasing.
“Where does the money go to?
“More often waste is not collected, why is that? Said a resident.”
Mr Mashiane assured residents that the municipality is working on the matter and he believes it will be resolved soon.
He also encouraged residents to pay for their services and report electricity theft.
Residents applauded the municipality for the increase in the indigent support scheme from R368-10 to 393-75.
They said this support scheme helps a lot and urged the municipality to fix water leakages.
Residents eventually accepted the draft budget and Ms Ethel Nkosi, MMC for Technical Services, thanked the community, councillors and officials who attended the budget consultation meeting.
