eTHEKWINI Council approved the city’s budget of R35.8 billion for the 2014/15 financial year at a special sitting of council in KwaNyuswa.
Mayor James Nxumalo said the balanced budget catered for service delivery needs, economic development and job creation.
“In drawing up this budget we were always guided by the need to respond to present conditions that require us to increase our pace of service delivery, grow the economy and create jobs. Our theme is, “Consolidating our gains to fast-track service delivery and meet people’s needs’.”
The proposed R35.8bn budget for the 2014/2015 financial year comprises of a R5.7bn capital budget that continues to reflect consistent efforts to address backlogs in basic services and the renewal of the infrastructure in the City and an operating budget of 30.1bn that will make provision for the continuation of the services provided by the Municipality.
Nxumalo said the speeding of service delivery and job creation would be prioritised in accordance to a call by President Jacob Zuma that these be fast tracked.
Some of the major capital programmes in the medium term capital budget include:
• R3.7 billion is set aside for addressing infrastructure backlogs
• R2.3 billion for low cost housing and infrastructure
• R3.1b for eThekwini Transport Authority (Including PTIS) for implementation of the IRPTN
• R762.9m for electricity infrastructure
• R815m is set aside for addressing community service backlogs
• Water Loss intervention programme has an investment of R 185m
• Roads Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, and new access roads R1.3bn
• Wastewater Treatment Works: Upgrades/Expansion R1.5b
• Northern Aqueduct Water Project R 296.9m
• Western Aqueduct – Water – R980m
• Solid Waste fleet replacement – R160m
• New Central Library – R348m
• Ablution Blocks-Upgrade in Informal Settlements – R760m
• Town Centre Renewals – Nodal developments – R404m
Some of the Key Capital Outputs for 2014/15 include:
• 8 500 new housing Units
• 650 former R293 Units to be upgraded
• 2000 new electricity connections (credit meters)
