SDM refutes DA’s claims of unnecessary R3.9m expenditure
Saviour Kgaswane, Acting Head of Communications and Stakeholder Relations in SDM said that the R3.9 million was incurred over a period of five years.
VEREENIGING.- The Sedibeng District Municipality (SDM) has issued a breakdown of the finances towards catering that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has said that the municipality had misused while residents suffer a lack of basic services.
The DA’s Emfuleni North Constituency Head, Kingsol Chabalala had said that the municipality had spent R3.9 million on catering while residents suffer a lack of basic services instead of spending the money to ensure that its residents have access to uninterrupted basic services such as water, electricity and refuse removal, Sedibeng District Municipality has spent R3.9 million on catering services in the last five financial years.
“It is extremely concerning that the Sedibeng District Municipality which constantly presents an unfunded budget and is in financial crisis is failing to prioritise service delivery for its residents. This information was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Lebogang Maile in a written reply to my questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).”
He added that his party will continue to hold the Sedibeng Mayor, Lerato Maloka to account for the millions spent on catering instead of ensuring that basic services are rendered to the residents.
Speaking to Sedibeng Ster, Saviour Kgaswane, Acting Head of Communications and Stakeholder Relations in SDM said that the R3.9 million was incurred over a period of five years from 2017/18 financial year up to 2021/22 financial year and that the SDM was in most cases catering for Municipal Council, committee meetings, and events relating to service delivery. Kgaswane said that of interest to note is that most of this expenditure was incurred in the first three years of the five years and is broken down as follows in relation to financial year:
• 2017/18 – R1 653 746.82
• 2018/19 – R1 847 983.87
• 2019/20 – R 818 821.59
• 2020/21 – R 353 498.75
• 2021/22 – R 155 351.06
Kgaswane added that it should be noted from the above expenditure break down that the SDM has been drastically cutting expenditure on catering in line with Cost Containment Measures that are being implemented and championed by SDM Executive Mayor, Lerato Maloka.
