City makes service delivery a priority
EThekwini Municipality has announced programmes to build a socially cohesive and financially viable city.
ETHEKWINI Municipality Mayor, James Nxumalo, last week announced two significant programmes aimed at ensuring that service delivery is prioritised.
Nxumalo unveiled the Municipality’s ambitious R41.6 billion budget for the 2016/17 financial year, which is made up of R34.9 billion operating budget and R6.7 billion capital budget.
This was followed by the announcement of the 2nd Social Cohesion Conference to be hosted by the City at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre on 21 to 23 April.
Nxumalo said amid tough economic challenges, the Municipality had presented the 2016/17 draft budget which made transformation and development priorities. Provisions in the budget continue to support government’s commitment to broadening service delivery and expanding investment in infrastructure, while taking into account the constrained fiscal environment.
“It is our responsibility to manage finances in a prudent and sustainable way, empower our people, accelerate service delivery, assist the needy and provide interventions to the challenges faced by our communities,” he said.
Tariff increases for the 2016/17 financial year were affected by various factors including the cost of bulk purchases from ESKOM and Umgeni Water, the adverse impact of the current economic climate, coupled with unfavourable external financial pressures on services and the decrease in consumption of water and electricity.
The budget is currently available for comments and community hearings started on 19 April. The budget will be presented to communities, business and traditional leadership, stakeholders, thereafter it will be adopted at the end of May 2016.
Speaking about the Social Cohesion Conference, Nxumalo said it would cover critical areas to take the City forward and assist in the realisation of a vision of a truly united and prosperous society. The Conference themes will cover a wide range of areas such as the role of the media in strengthening democracy and social cohesion, education, the role of women in a transformed society and economy.
