The adjustment budget saw 700 matriculants receiving bursaries after the City’s bursary fund was increased from R10 million to R100 million.
According to Themba Gadebe, metro spokesperson, this is to address the status quo, which projects the Ekurhuleni population will have far fewer citizens with a post-matric qualification.
“Emerging businesses and non-government organisations stand to receive substantial financial aid since council also increased the grant funding from R20 million to R100 million through the adjustment budget,” said Gadebe.
According to the executive mayor Clr Mzwandile Masina, they went to communities and visited all sectors of society and were persuaded to attend to these urgent needs.
“Critical among the people’s needs was the issue of land and housing. The City has 119 informal settlements. Council resolved to procure strategic land parcels in order to deliver on the commitment to build 100 000 houses and 59 000 serviced stands. This required the budget to be adjusted accordingly,” Masina said.
The mayor also addressed the increase in land invasions in the municipality.
“It would be absurd to expect the city to fold its arms in the face of pure lawlessness, which seeks to sabotage the delivery of houses to the rightful beneficiaries. We have therefore sought to add R45 million to deal with security of our land,” the mayor said.
