This budget speech encompassed the last Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and the Medium Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework (MTREF) for the team of 2011 to 2016 under the leadership of mayor Clr Mondli Gungubele.
Some of the key local areas contained in the budget speech included the following:
In intensifying safety and security R339-million was spent on the building and upgrading of 21 clinics and seven Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in Tembisa, Tsakane, Duduza, KwaThema, Daveyton, Etwatwa and Katlehong.
An amount of R78-million goes towards promoting township economies through tourism and industrial with R30-million allocated to building and operationalising fabrication laboratories in Duduza, R20-million for the development of Labore and Withoek Industrial Park in Tsakane.
To achieve the environmental well-being of society, R266-million has been allocated to ensure an environmentally friendly city, to create a socially cohesive environment, upgrading and developing of parks in Springs, Etwatwa, Tembisa, KwaThema, Benoni, Zonkizizwe and Vosloorus.
Over and above this Makwakwa shares that they will continue with rodent control, litter picking, Lungile Mtshali, illegal dumping, grass cutting and the Clean City programmes.
An amount of R507-million has been allocated for the construction and upgrading of the community facilities and the acquisition of emergency services vehicles.
This includes the construction of the new clinics in Duduza, Lindelani Extension Nine and Esselen Park, R60-million for ECD centres in Vosloorus, Tsakane and Thokoza, building of swimming pools in Duduza, Van Dyk Park, Daveyton and R97-million to upgrade and rehabilitate libraries including in Etwatwa and Bonaero Park.
“Our pensioners, who are earning a monthly income of R2 840 qualify for a 100% rebate while the monthly income entry for a 40% rebate has improved from R12 750 to R13 640.
“Based on the Nersa approval, the electricity tariff will increase between 7.64% to 9.4% depending on the consumption level.
“Water tariff will increase by 9%, sanitation will increase by 9%, refuse removal goes up by 8% for both business and residential and there is 0% increase in cemetery fees for the Ekurhuleni residents but 10% for outsiders,” he says.
Regarding the rate of night vigil tariffs for traditional churches and non-profit organisations, the city has reduced the tariffs from R900 to R450 per hour.
More good news is that there will be no increase in the library and information services, use of arts, culture, heritage facilities and sports and recreation facilities.
