Municipality ready to tighten up belts

The Waterberg District Municipality said it was ready to comply with strict Treasury measures to cut down on costs.

Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has come up with sweeping measures which call for, among others, restriction of catering at the end of meetings.

The stringent measures have since been endorsed by Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Waterberg District Municipal spokesperson, Pat Malete, said as much as the district leadership was still to study the measures, the authorities have been complying with likewise restrictions in
the past.

According to National Treasury, travel and subsistence allowances are to be limited, and that consultants may only be used if they help with in-house training of municipal staff.

Malete said the municipality started complying with some of the general measures even before the 2019/2020 financial year.

He added that the municipality also no longer offer catering for even the IDP Representatives Forum.

Before appointing a consultant, municipalities will, as of next month, have to negotiate payments, set a cost ceiling, and reach an agreement that the consultant will help with in-house
training of municipal staff.

According to Treasury, the cost containment measures are to take effect from 1 July.

— The BEAT