eMBALENHLE – Govan Mbeki municipality began with its public participation and consultation process for the 2021/22 financial year’s draft budget and Integrated Development Plan (IDP).
The municipality tabled the draft budget and IDP on 30 March at a council meeting held at the Lillian Ngoyi community centre in Secunda.
Consultations at Vukuzithathe Primary School last week nearly turned into chaos when two community members pelted the Ward 8 councillor, Mr Philemon Mahlangu, with questions about his ward committee members.
An argument erupted and MMC Thandi Ngxonono, MMC Thandiwe Zulu and Mr Mahlangu tried to explain that it was not the appropriate platform to ask about ward committees. The meeting was an IDP and budget consultative meeting.
However, these community members demanded answers and were asked to leave because they are not Ward 8 residents.
According to MMC Thandiwe Zulu, they reside at her Ward 14.
The two community members were escorted out of the meeting by other residents who were interested in listening to what the municipality had to say.
At a meeting with Ward 14 residents held on Thursday, 15 April, the residents were told that the municipality is bankrupt.
The residents told Mr Dan Nhlapho, a member of the mayoral committee, that the municipality should cut their salaries to boost its finances.
The public participation and consultation process is a platform for communities to express their service delivery aspirations before the budget and IDP are adopted for implementation.
Proposed tariff increases by Govan Mbeki municipality for 2021/2022 financial year are as follows:
Property rates will increase by 4.1 per cent, electricity by 14.5 per cent as per NERSA guidelines, water and sanitation by 5.8 per cent as per Rand Water notice, waste management by 4.1 per cent, refuse removal as per the consumer price index, sceptic tanks and water thanks by 5.8 per cent as per Rand Water notice and miscellaneous by 4.1 per cent.
The proposed Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) and other grant projects include the rehabilitation of tarred roads in eMbalenhle of R15-million, construction of wastewater treatment works in Charl Cilliers at R5-million, the refurbishment of three wastewater treatment plants at Trichardt at almost R4,2-million, the Trichardt water treatment works at almost R4-million, the construction of bulk line and reticulation to Charl Cilliers at the cost of R10-million, the installation of sewer reticulation, a pump station and rising main in Eendracht at R19,8-million, the upgrading of eMbalenhle bulk sewer pipeline and pump station (ext 5) at R16-million, the upgrading of eMbalenhle bulk sewer pipeline and pump station (ext 24) at R40-million and the electrification of eMbalenhle Ext22 RDP houses at R7,65-million.
Repairs and maintenance cost the municipality R120-million, roads R21,3-million, electricity R44,6-million, water R11-million, sanitation R15,5-million. community R8,9-million and R18,9-million for other assets.
