Local councillor admonishes eThekwini under-expenditure
A local councillor, who is on the eThekwini Municipality's executive committee, comments on the city's under-expenditure.
DURING a recent eThekwini special executive meeting, under-expenditure across various departments came under the microscope as the 2024/25 municipal financial year draws to a close on June 30.
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Ward 97 councillor and executive committee member, André Beetge, said that the committee expressed serious concerns to senior management on the year’s capital expenditure to date.
Overall figures reflect that present expenditure is at 56.47%, or R4.5b against an approved budget of just under R8b.
The expenditure for the following departments was noted:
- Housing (73.77%)
- Water (55%)
- Sanitation (55.96%, forecast to reach 65.14%)
- Solid waste (40.17%, forecast to reach 73.82%)
- Engineering (58.48%, forecast to reach 75.27%)
- Electricity (63.44%)
- Transport (61.04, forecast to reach 81.75%)
- Metro police (14.08%)
Beetge explained that similarities reflected in expenditure of conditional grants that included the equitable share reflect R1.6b under-expenditure against a revised budget of R9.2b, which is under threat of forfeiture without rollover condonation by national treasury.
The under-expenditure reflected in the service delivery performance analysis, with under 2000 of the 4500 new electricity connections, nearly 1000 fewer new water connections, nearly 500 short of the 1 977 new housing units and only 2.7 of 4km of gravel to asphalt road surfacing being completed.
He added that repeat low expenditure of the Urban Settlements Development Grant and under-spending of the Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership grant were further noted.
“In almost universal response, department heads assured the executive committee invoices received were still being processed with Solid Waste, City Fleet and Parks, Recreation and Culture reflected expectations of plant or equipment delivery before month end,” said Beetge.
He expressed scepticism in the municipality’s ability to self correct before the end of the financial year.
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