By Doreen Mokgolo
- The new R54.6-billion budget focuses on fixing services, creating jobs and helping poor communities.
- R740-million will go towards job creation while more than R1-billion is set aside for basic services.
Tshwane has put forward a fully funded budget for the first time in four years, and it’s been approved by National Treasury.
Finance MMC Eugene Modise delivered the R54.6-billion draft budget on Thursday, calling it a big step for the city.
Modise said the budget is the result of teamwork between the eight political parties that run the city.
He said it will help fix problems in poorer communities while keeping services running in wealthier areas.
“We’ve cut the city’s debt from R3-billion last year to R1.3-billion this year — and this budget doesn’t rely on loans,” said Modise.
The capital budget is R2.4-billion and the operating budget is R52.2-billion. The City also received R7.4-billion in grants from the National Treasury, including a new one called the Urban Development Financing Grant.
To tackle unemployment, which sits at 38.4% with most of the jobless being young people, the City will spend R740-million on job creation and economic planning.
Modise said their new plan, the Tshwane Economic Revitalisation Strategy, is expected to bring in more than R17-billion in new business and create 80,000 jobs over the next four years.
The City is also spending R1.4-billion to fix and maintain roads, water pipes, and other infrastructure. Some key projects include:
- R150-million for Rooiwal Waste Water Treatment Plant
- R45-million for Mamelodi sanitation
- R25-million to fix Bronkhorstspruit Water Plant
- R26-million for Temba and Babelegi treatment plants
- R15-million for Ekangala water works
- R11-million for Sunderland Ridge plant
- R3-million for toilets in Ekangala
To help with housing, the City is spending R40.2-million on rental subsidies and 1,200 new units. Another R400-million will be used to improve services in informal settlements.
The Emergency Services and Metro Police will get R5.3-billion.
But DA councillor Jacqui Uys criticised the budget. She said it looks good on paper, but it won’t fix the real problems on the ground.
Pictured above: Eugene Modise.
Image source: Facebook