Campbell reports on 100 days in office
“Moodys downgrade in late November 2021 resulted in a R500m reduction being borrowed, which impacted the capital expenditure and a collection rate of 84%, which is a 6% decrease compared to the budgeted rate.”
City of Ekurhuleni’s Mayor Tania Campbell marked 100 days in office on March 2.
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Campbell recognised this as a symbolic milestone and an important opportunity to account to the residents of Ekurhuleni on the progress made since their ascension to office.
“With their securement of an adjustment budget for the remainder of the 2021/2022 financial year, the budget focuses on supporting better service delivery, security of utilities, infrastructure maintenance, environmental management and sanitation,” said Campbell.
She said the budget cuts down unnecessary spending in non-service delivery, which has resulted in the recovery of the 21-day reserve, with nine days to meet the National Treasury’s 30-day minimum requirement.
“Moody’s downgrade in late November 2021 resulted in an R500m reduction being borrowed, which impacted the capital expenditure and a collection rate of 84%, which is a 6% decrease compared to the budgeted rate.
“Moody’s analytics has vast economic, demographic and financial databases that encompass over 180 nations and sub-regions, giving detailed views of banking, financial markets, real estate, demography, pricing, interest rates and labour markets, among other things,” Campbell said.
She reported that the CoE’s back-to-basics approach to service delivery has already yielded results in the past 100 days.
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Services
• Utilities: R117m was allocated to the energy department, which was R40m for maintenance and R77m for new infrastructure.
“The money is aimed to minimise the power outages caused by poor ageing and poorly maintained infrastructure.
Impala and Kwa-Thema water reservoirs have also been completed and 48 water points were installed at Mayfield Ext 15 in Ward 96,” said Campbell.
• Environment and waste: progress was made to clear hyacinth and rehabilitate the Benoni lakes and dams, as well as clearing 112 illegal dumping spots throughout the city.
• Roads and stormwater: 2 100 stormwater drains were checked by maintenance teams, 48km of road was rehabilitated, 550 road signs were installed and maintained and 29 000 square metres of potholes were patched throughout the city.
• Human settlement: 157 units out of 197 were completed for allocation at Chris Hani Phase Two in Boksburg.
Construction commenced with 152 units at the Leeuwpoort development, with a further 188 units on track for completion at the Vorloorus Urban Renewal project.
• Job creation: CoE concluded contracts of 1 100 Public Employment Programme beneficiaries with an additional 220 work opportunities created in roads and stormwater maintenance.
Campbell reported that a new city audit committee was appointed in December 2021, and a meeting was held with the chairperson to indicate the multiparty coalition’s support for its work in ensuring financial compliance and good governance by administration.
“Inefficiently distributed objection outcomes were uploaded to the city’s Siyakhokha platform and financial open days were held in February to promote assistance to aggrieved property owners.
“The city has lobbied the provincial government for the expeditious establishment of the Ekurhuleni Valuations Appeal Board and an extension in the deadline for the appeals to April 29 this year,” said Campbell.
Residents can make rate payment arrangements at their proposed property valuation while their appeals are being finalised.
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