Umzumbe Local Municipality mayor tables final budget
Mayor Bongani Nyuswa said that the community's needs are increasing, but the budget is decreasing.
No mention was made of Umzumbe Local Municipality ‘new offices’ when the mayor, Bongani Nyuswa, tabled his final budget at council chambers recently.
Construction of these offices started in 2021, but to date it remains incomplete.
Municipal spokesperson Sabelo Ncwane said due to budget constraints, the municipality is exploring a public-private partnership in order to complete the offices.
“We are currently busy consulting with Treasury to seek guidance regarding the correct model of doing this,”
The municipality’s operating budget for 2026/2027 is R225,797,390,87 and the total capital budget is R61, 576,934,28.
Nyuswa added that the community’s needs are increasing, but the budget is decreasing.
Some of the budgeted projects are: Mncindo Access Road – R10.3m, Indoor Sport Centre – R25.3m, Hlokozi Sportfield – R1.4m, Esiwoyini Sportfield – R5.9m, stormwater maintenance – R700 000, maintenance and road repairs – R3m, Qoloqolo electrification – R50 000, Mbonje electrification – R103 000, Sipofu electrification – R103 000, Sunduza electrification – R50 000, Phungashe electrification – R50,000 and Nomakhanzana electrification – R50 000.
Waste collection is budgeted at R2.6m, ward committee stipend is set at R3.6m, Disability Games at R380 000, Umkhosi Womhlanga (reed dance) at R330 000, Salga Games at R405 000 and the Mfundo Arnold Lushaba Marathon is budgeted at R675 000.
Furthermore, Nyuswa added that the municipality has to service areas such as Mtwalume Beach, Long Beach and Koolwaters that were previously part of Umdoni Municipality.
“As we will not be making much money from these areas, we need to find investors so that they are able to pay rates.”
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