A total of R1.2 billion was also allocated for the formalisation of informal settlements over the medium term.
Picture for illustration. Mjoliso Mphotye a waste picker that was arrested during the nationwide lockdown can be seen at the informal settlement along the Hennops river in Centurion, 9 July 2020, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles
The City of Johannesburg has met this week’s deadline set by the Gauteng government to pass its 2020/2021 budget.
Failure to do so would have seen it facing challenges similar to Tshwane, which has been embroiled in court battles since being placed under administration by Premier David Makhura in February.
Finance MMC Jolidee Matongo tabled a R68.1-billion budget before 257 councillors, some of who participated in the virtual sitting remotely.
The EFF is the only party which did not support recommendations for both the operating budget and the capital budget.
Matongo said the budget prioritised tariff relief and rebates for pensioners, as the City – much like the rest of the world – battled against the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said property rate tariffs would be reduced from the proposed 4.9% increase to 4%, water tariffs would also be dropped from the planned 8.6% to 6.6%, and electricity would be reduced from 8.10% to 6.23%.
Matongo said the budget was attempting to balance the needs of residents, as well as negotiate the tough economic period, adding that the City was urgently looking at measures to bring relief to residents.
Among the highlights of the 2020/2021 budget tabled were:
Matongo briefly touched on the City’s vision to bolster efforts to stimulate the country’s economy and create more opportunities for young people, with R50 million being set aside as seed funding for youth development, which he said would work in partnership with provincial and national government, as well as the private sector.
The budget would also focus on the elderly in Johannesburg, and Motongo announced that a pensioner income-qualifying criterion for tariff relief interventions had increased by 6%.
“This means a pensioner with a property value of below R2.5 million, and an income of below R10 338 for the lower limit or below R17 719 for the upper limit, will receive a 100% rebate on their rates,” he explained.
“This effectively means an increased number of pensioners will now qualify for the City’s rebates.”
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