Metro to spend billions
KwaThema - Young and old residents filled the KwaThema Hall on Tuesday to learn more about the Ekurhuleni Metro's draft budget.
The draft budget was presented by MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Clr Queen Duba.
Duba said R31.5-billion has been allocated to the 2015/2016 operating budget, which is an increase of 10.5% from the 2014/2015 budget.
The following will be spent:
n Assessments rates R4.3-b
n Refuse removal: R1.5-b
n Sanitation: R1.2-b
n Electricity: R13.2-b
n Water: R3.4-b
n Government grants: R5-b
The remaining money will be used for other income, the details of which were not specified by Duba.
Duba says R2.9-b will be used for the Ekurhuleni Community Empowerment Package, which will be ring fenced for pre-qualified businesses owned by the youth, women, people with disabilities, black industrialists and community job creation initiatives.
According to Duba within the R2.9-b, R1-b will be allocated to youth owned enterprises, R589-million to the Community Works Programme, R500-m for learner contractors under the Vukuphile Programme, R500-m for black industrialists, R101-m to the Lungile Mtshali Community Development Programme, R100-m to community social entrepreneurship and R115-m to the Job Fund Leveraging Projects Programme.
She pleaded with vendors to register their businesses between May 18 and 22.
The application forms required for registration will be available at the various customer care centres.
“Tariffs for assessment rates will increase by 7.5%, electricity by 12.2%, water by 14.5%, sanitation by 9.5% and refuse removal by 8%”, says Duba.
Duba added 90% of the Bulithando Park heritage site has been completed and the KwaThema Fire Station is in the process of being built.
She could not confirm when construction will be complete.
Moses Ngwenya from ward 77 appealed to the metro for upgrades to the KwaThema Stadium and clinic.
Residents from Langaville and Marikana asked when the issues surrounding housing, electricity and 240lt bins will be addressed.
In response to residents, Duba states that the migration plan for Langaville – which will see residents of the informal settlement moved from the water-logged land to an area where RDP houses can be built – is still in place.
She adds that the concerns about the stadium will be reported.
