Dismal turnout to budget meeting
A handful of residents showed they cared about how their wards are run, when they attended a draft budget meeting last week.
A DISMAL turnout by residents to a meeting to discuss the draft budget on Wendesday evening, 13 May, has been described as disappointing.
Meetings were held in wards across eThekwini where ratepayers were invited to give input concerning the draft budget and discuss concerns with municipal officials who were in attendance and also gave insight into various aspects of the budget.
The meeting, which was organised jointly by Councillors Martin Meyer and Nicole Graham and to which all residents in all three Berea wards were invited. According to Councillor Meyer, the few residents who did attend the meeting, however, did interact with the officials. “Despite the bad turnout, we want to thank the officials who came, and who were happy to give feedback to residents,” he said.
Cheryl Johnson of Save Our Berea, which was represented at the meeting by co-founder, Kevin Dunkley, said the civic organisation was shocked and disappointed that so few ratepayers attended.
“Unless residents get involved in how their wards are run and give their councillors support and feedback, how can they expect to get satisfactory service delivery?” said Johnson.
Meyer said the draft budget would now be discussed by various caucuses. He said the DA would study the budget in depth, and make recommendations to the city.
“We will also, after we have studied the budget, decide whether we as the representatives of a large number of residents in the city, can support the budget, or if we will vote against it. The budget directly affects each and every resident in the city and I want to encourage residents to actively participate in the process,” he said.
Meyer said the draft budget was available at www.durban.gov.co.za and encouraged residents to have a look at it, and email their ward councillor if they have any input to give.
