Lekwa council adopts budget and IDP

The council of the Lekwa Local Municipality (LMM) adopted the budget and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) for the 2024/25 financial year. According to an email dated June 6, the financial year will begin on July 1.

This follows Mayor Delani Louis Thabethe tabling these strategic documents during the special meeting held virtually on June 4.

“To comply with the Municipal Finance Management Act and to ensure service delivery continues unhindered, it was crucial for the council to adopt these,” Thabethe said.

He also said the final budget and IDP were the culmination of an extensive, consultative, outreach programme where the community of Lekwa in all wards could prioritise their development needs.

“This is a programme of action we will embark on during the 2024/25 financial year in our quest to strengthen service delivery. We are leveraging on the foundation laid in the financial year ending on June 30 and previous years.

“We will continue with our strives of advancing development and making Lekwa great again.”

The newspaper met with DA councillor Alberto Franco on June 11 to get clarification on what ratepayers can expect in terms of tariffs.

Electricity will increase by 12.72%, which is in line with the guidelines of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA).

The Lekwa Eskom debt is R2.3-billion on May 30. Water tariffs will increase by 4.9%, an amount exclusive of VAT, and the same applies to sewage and refuse tariffs.

The valuation roll, still open for comments and objections, will be implemented later. Lekwa owes its creditors R2.9b and its debt to the Department of Water and Sanitation is about R10m.

The municipality has a deficit of more than R3m.

Capital projects include the construction of the Kieser Reservoir and Pressure Tower and upgrading of the bulk water system, refurbishment of rural VIP toilets, refurbishment of boreholes in rural areas, installation of high mast lighting in Ext 8, Thuthukani and rural areas, rehabilitation of Morgenzon Landfill Site, development of Thuthukani Cemetery, fencing of Walter Sisulu Cemetery, switching 11KV station for Rooikoppen and construction of a 11KV line from Substation A to Rooikoppen.

The debt relief incentive scheme has been extended. The Lekwa council held a virtual meeting on June 4, where it resolved to meet its customers halfway in paying their outstanding debts. The scheme, initially set to run until June 30 is now extended to June 30, 2025.
Lekwa said all categories of customers are qualifying for the debt relief incentive scheme, subject to paying off 50% of the outstanding debt.

“We encourage customers in debt with the municipality to apply for debt relief and to enter into a payment arrangement,” an email dated June 6 read.

The interest in their debt will be suppressed. If the customer defaults on the payment agreement, the agreement will be terminated.

Customers can apply at their nearest municipal revenue office or call either 017 712 9647 or 017 712 9629.