Slowly but surely seats at the Estcourt Town Hall filled up on Thursday in time for the presentation of the 2019/20 UThukela District Municipality Draft Integrated Development Planning (IDP) and Budget.
UThukela District Municipality Deputy Mayor, Councillor Nombali Sibiya was accompanied by Inkosi Langalibalele Ward 10 Councillor Edith Lite and Induna Mtshali.
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Bongumusa Mnguni from UThukela District Municipality explained that the aim of the meeting was to ensure that all interested and affected stakeholders make input to the draft IDP and budget.
“This is your right; there is a Municipal Finance Act as well as a Municipal Systems Act, which gives you this right. Your input will guide UThukela and let us know what the loopholes are,” explained Mr Mnguni.
Councillor Sibiya then informed the attendees that each new financial year begins on July 1.
“This 20-page document is an on-going plan. We provide water, sanitation and some disaster management to the 23 wards at Inkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality, 15 wards at Okhahlamba Local Municipality and 36 at the Alfred Duma Local Municipality,” she announced.
The draft budget and IDP was approved on March 29 during an UThukela District Municipality council meeting.
A series of such meetings will be held and must include all roleplayers that reside in the ward.
It is also critical to ensure service delivery.
“We have a challenge when residents do not pay water bills, yet expect services. We need more contributions but many of the surrounding wards are very rural,” said Councillor Sibiya.
Some of the other challenges mentioned were unemployment, aging water infrastructure, high Eskom tariffs and the unstable national and provincial economy.
Councillor Sibiya added: “I guarantee that you cannot pass more than two streets in town without seeing a water leak and that’s due to aging water infrastructure.”
R7 million is allocated for the Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP).
“We aim to ensure that the people employed are equipped with the needed skills for future employment and also that in every financial year, interns from almost all wards are trained and receive incentives,” said she said.
Ms Sibiya encouraged those who cannot afford to pay for their water consumption to apply for indigency status, which gives the homeowner six kilolitres for free; she added that the application must be done annually.
R26.5 million will be provided for free basic services.
UThukela District Municipality Finance Manager Siphamandla Dlamini then shocked locals with this statement.
“Customer’s debt is approaching R1 billion and is currently sitting at R900 million.
“This is due to residents not paying their water accounts at all. I advise that you pay 50 percent of your bill each month. Come and see us, we can write off your bill but this is only once you have begun paying 50 percent.
“A flat rate is better than no rate at all.”
This was welcomed by applause and thereafter the interaction session got underway after which the presentation ended.
Councillor Lite also brought to the UThukela District Municipality Deputy Mayor’s attention that Ward 10 residents have been complaining of discoloured water for almost three weeks.
She then requested that once the presentation is concluded, the team accompany her to have a look at the matter.
NOTE:
A meeting is set for May 4 at the Forderville Hall from 9am to assist the public with incentives and indigent forms. You are required to take along with you a certified ID copy, water account statement, affidavits and other supporting statements, proof of ownership, pensioners need to bring proof and certified proof employment.
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