COMMUNITY members from wards 10, 11 and 13 gathered at King Zwelithini Hall in Bhekuzulu on Sunday to listen and give their views on this year’s Budget and Integrated Development Program.
Lead by AbaQulusi’s speaker, Michael Khumalo, the meeting was very interactive as members of the community got to voice their concerns and have a say on how they wanted their community to be developed in the coming financial year.
This year’s budget is estimated to be around R580 million with R37.7 million being the MIG funding, R15 million for DOE and R538 million is expected to come from the ratepayers.
AbaQulusi Municipality’s Deputy Mayor, Cllr Jerry Sibiya, said despite this sounding like a large amount, AbaQulusi Municipality needs about R2 billion in order to see development in all its areas.
With that having been said, Cllr Sibiya announced the proposed increases for the coming financial year. Electricity, water, refuse removal and sewer/sanitation charges will all be increasing by 6.1%.
Cllr Sibiya said that the municipality was still losing a lot of money because of bridged electricity connections and went on to say that those found guilty of such would be penalised.
“Community members found guilty of bridging electricity will be given a R30 000 fine, while businesses found guilty of doing the same, will have to fork out R200 000. In both instances, these people will not have electricity until the due amount for their penalty has been paid up in full,” said Cllr Sibiya.
Cllr Sibiya also pleaded with council members to work together to bring service delivery, irrespective of their political differences.
“We are here to serve the people and I encourage us all to form a good working relationship with one another in order to make doing this as easy or as manageable a task as possible,” said Cllr Sibiya.
After the budget was discussed, community members were given the chance to voice their concerns and make requests. More RDP houses, tanks, as well as the provision of more water tanks for the Bhekuzulu community, seemed to be at the top of the list for many of the community members.
Other issues such as the outsourcing of workers and service providers, the maintenance of roads in Bhekuzulu, the installation of Apollo lights in areas around the community as a means to decrease crime, and job opportunities were also discussed and the municipal officials promised to look into all of them.
