This project is the first of its kind and will see an annual budget allocation of R1 million rand for each and every ward in the Metro. This will empower ward committees and communities, with R1 million per ward for the community to spend on developmental projects of their choice.
It is important to remember that the money is project-based and communities must establish programs and projects that will develop their ward. The Executive Mayor Mondli Gungubele first announced the Lungile Mtshali project during the State of the City Address.
This intervention is aimed at communities that want to get actively involved in the development of their community. The Lungile Mtshali Community Development Project is a ward-based project aimed at creating jobs and fighting poverty in every ward in Ekurhuleni. I was so proud at this event because I personally knew Lungile Mtshali and she was a remarkable leader.
Lungile was the first woman to become the Mayoral Committee Member for Finance. She held this position with pride and confidence and under her leadership Ekurhuleni received an unqualified audit. Clr Izak Berg hailed her as woman of the year on Woman’s day in August 2009 for achieving the first Ekurhuleni municipal bond. I have served with the late Lungile Mtshali on the Finance portfolio for several years and remember her as one of my first friends in council when I became councillor in 2000.
I cannot think of a more fitting name patron for this R101 million rand project. The Mayor said that this project must be viewed as the city’s intervention to build an active and responsive citizenry. Ekurhuleni will roll out this project in an attempt to fast-track service delivery in the region. The Lungile Mtshali Community Development Project aims to create over 3 000 jobs in the region. Projects must be centered around energy efficiency, water and sanitation; wetlands rehabilitation and waste management, greening and landscaping.
This project will allow people to get directly involved in the upkeep of their areas. Ekurhuleni has budgeted to allocate the R1 million per ward for the next three financial years. Let’s Bridge the Gap and build a better life for all. Please email your views to me at Diamond.Neil@ekurhuleni.gov.za
