Financial stability, service delivery are priorities says Mayor

He also spoke on strategic plans to enhance service delivery agility and the fostering of co-operative governance through regular community interactions.

The briefing also touched on the recently approved 2024/25 budget (R60b), tariff hikes and performance among mayoral committee members in the various portfolios.

Mayor

Xhakaza said despite encountering several challenges, his journey was marked by significant strides towards restoring service delivery and rebuilding public trust in the local government.

He said when he resumed office, their mandate was to restore political stability, improve services, and rebuild the city’s infrastructure.

“We embarked on this mission with unwavering commitment and a dedicated team.”

Six key pillars

When delivering his State of the City Address in April, Xhakaza said one of the key initiatives was establishing the service delivery war room, which is a multi-departmental platform designed to enhance co-ordination and tackle service delivery issues head-on.

Part of this was the provision of quality, equitable and sustainable services; infrastructure repairs and maintenance and rebuilding of the fiscus; investment in critical infrastructure in partnership with the private sector; economic development with a special focus on the Aerotropolis, SMMEs and job creation, and good, ethical and effective governance.

Mayoral imbizo

The metro launched the Mayoral Imbizo Programme on May 9, which, according to Xhakaza, marked the start of a new era of direct engagement with communities and co-operative governance.

“We visited wards, listened to concerns, and took immediate action when needed. This approach has allowed us to address service bottlenecks promptly and ensure we meet our citizens’ needs efficiently.”

Achievements

The mayor said that they have achieved remarkable milestones in about 90 days.

These included the reopening of the Rietfontein Landfill site; the delivery of an additional 13 waste compactor trucks, completing the full order of 21 new trucks added to the fleet; and the inauguration of the Vosloorus Multi-Purpose Centre, a community resource offering a range of activities and sports.

“In addition, our economic initiatives have led to the launch of the Fetsa Tlala Agriculture Support Programme, designed to empower emerging black farmers and co-operatives.

“Moreover, the city was recently recognised for excellence in governance at the second Annual South African Local Government Association (SALGA) Municipal Audit Awards on July 5. Our city scooped two prestigious awards.

“We were honoured for reducing unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure and implementing effective consequence management in the 2023/24 financial year.”

Infrastructure and maintenance

Xhakaza said the city had made significant progress in constructing new roads, electrifying informal settlements and installing high-mast lights in key areas.

Finance

“We have also focused on strengthening our city’s financial stability and shifted our focus to revenue enhancement.

“Our thriving regional economy remains key to our financial sustainability efforts. However, we note, among others, the Eskom matter of down payment. We believe this is an issue we must have a conversation about.

“Through better management and increased capital spending, we are on a path to sustainable financial health. This is important for supporting our ongoing and future development projects.”

Challenges

Xhakaza said managing coalition partners and ensuring co-operation from all mayoral committee members has been challenging. However, they are encouraged by the continued support from the multi-party in the council.

“Our journey has not been without obstacles. However, we are fostering a cohesive and collaborative working environment through performance agreements, strategic planning sessions, and open communication.”

Looking ahead

“The ANC-led coalition government is committed to stabilising our city’s finances, enhancing service delivery and realising the dream of the city. We are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of good governance and working tirelessly to meet the needs of our communities.”

Budget

Updating the media on the approved annual budget, the newly appointed finance MMC, Jongizizwe Dlabathi, said the budget reflects their commitment to promoting good governance and ensuring the city’s financial sustainability.

Dlabathi said the budget prioritises critical areas to enhance the quality of life for all Ekurhuleni residents:

• R475m allocated for road repairs and maintenance.

• R420m to upgrade and maintain stormwater drainage systems.

• Continued investment in streetlights and high-mast light maintenance to improve safety and visibility.

Energy Department

The Energy Department was allocated a capital budget of R5.52b in this budget, focusing on several key projects, including the upgrading and construction of substations and electrification of 2 500 households in various informal settlements.

Roads and Stormwater Department

The Roads and Stormwater Department was allocated R2.636b in 2024/25, focusing on various projects, including R72m to implement phases of the masterplan in Thokoza; R37m to upgrade Etwatwa streets and roads; R20m to address dumping and rehabilitate the stream in Tembisa.

Water and Sanitation Department

The Water and Sanitation Department was allocated R590m in 2024/25 for key projects, including:

• R30m for a new 30Ml reservoir in Germiston.

• R15m to construct a new sewer pipeline.

• R10m for a new water pipeline in Nigel.

• R10m for the Rondebult Outfall Sewer upgrades in Boksburg.

• R10m for new sewer pipeline construction in Tembisa.

Transport

The Transport Department was allocated R353m in 2024/25 for the completion of Phase 1A and extending the BRT route into Phase 1B and 1C, with projects such as:

• Trunk route area 6D: Completion of dedicated bus lanes.

• Complementary/feeder route bus stops: Construction of bus stops and intersection upgrades in Boksburg and Vosloorus.

• Bus shelters: Construction of 25 bus shelters along Phase 1A and B routes.

Human settlements

The Human Settlements Department was allocated R492.5m in 2024/25 to implement various housing programmes, including:

• R16m for roads and stormwater construction in Ext 4, Birchleigh North.

• R9m for services to unlock the construction of 257 RDP walkups in the Leeuwpoort Mega Housing Project.

• R12m for roads and stormwater construction in the Daggafontein Mega Project.

• R8m to complete 300 serviced stands in Ext 9, Palm Ridge.

Tarif adjustment

• Property rates increased by 4.6%.

• Sanitation increased by 6%.

• Refuse removal is up by 5.3%.

• Water is up by 6%.

• Electricity increased by 11.75%.

Dlabathi said these adjustments align with the consumer price index and legislated tariff increases.

“We understand the impact of these increases on our residents and have ensured that they are kept to a minimum while still enabling us to deliver essential services.