2014/15 eThekwini budget

Key facts and figures from the eThekwini budget.

June 3, 2014

Erin Hanekom 2 minutes read

THE 2014/2015 municipal budget has been approved at a value of R35.8-billion, with a capital budget of R5.7-billion and operating budget of R30.1-billion.

Below are the key figures from the budget report:

* Some of the capital programmes in the capital budget are:

Ablution blocks upgrade in informal settlements: R760-million.
Community service backlogs: R815-million.
Electricity infrastructure: R762.9-million.
eThekwini Transport Authority: R3.1-billion.
Infrastructure backlogs: R3.7-billion.
Low cost housing and infrastructure: R2.3-billion.
New central library: R348-million.
Northern aqueduct water project: R296.9-million.
Roads rehabilitation and reconstruction and new access roads: R1.3-billion.
Solid waste fleet replacement: R160-million.
Town centre renewals: R404-million.
Upgrades and expansion to wastewater treatment works: R1.5-billion.
Water loss intervention programme: R185-million.
Western aqueduct: R980-million

* The key capital outputs for 2014/15 include:

8,500 new housing units.
650 former R293 units to be upgraded.
2,000 new electricity connections.
12,000 prepayment meter connections to informal settlements.
488 additional ablution facilities to informal settlements per year.
Expansion and upgrades to six waste water treatment works.
11.8 km of unsurfaced to surfaced roads.
25.2 km of sidewalks.
440 stormwater systems upgrading.
Increasing water supply capacity through the western and northern aqueducts.

* Skills development and job creation projects budget: R38.5-million.

* Learnership budget: R4.9-million.

* Apprenticeship budget: R7.4-million.

* Skills programme: R1.5-million.

* Co-operatives programme: R20.4-million.

* Registration fees assistance for students for tertiary studies: R1-million.

* A social package totalling about R3.1-billion has been set aside, funded mainly from the equitable share grant.

* Free basic services:

Properties valued up to R185,000 will be exempt from paying rates. Of the properties valued above R185,000, the first R120,000 no rates charged.
Pensioners, child-headed households, disability grantees and the medically boarded are exempt from paying rates on the first R460,000 of their property value. (This amount is inclusive of the R120,000 mentioned above.)
Rebate increases from R259-per-month to R278-per-month.
The first 9kl of water is free to households with property values under R250,000.
The first 50kwh of electricity is free to residents using less than 150kwh per month in Eskom reticulated areas.
The first 65kwh of electricity is free to residents using less than 150kwh per month in eThekwini reticulated areas.
Residential properties valued up to R250,000 are exempt from domestic refuse removal tariff. In addition, a free basic refuse removal service is also available to indigent consumer units living in rural, informal settlements.
The first 9kl of effluent disposal is exempt for all properties with values under R250,000.

* Tariffs: