‘Empty promises made by metro’ – DA

Following the recent delivery of the budget speech by Ekurhuleni MMC for finance, Clr Moses Makwakwa, the Democratic Alliance (DA) believes that Ekurhuleni residents are in for more empty promises.

“Looking at the past results, the metro hasn’t been able to deliver on its promises,” says Phillip de Lange from the DA.

For example, the Human Settlements Department had a target of 400 housing units in the third quarter.

“Rather unsatisfactory, the department managed to build a disgracefully low number of 19 units,” he states.

In the previous quarter, only 11 units were built, instead of the set target of 600.

Within the Urban Settlements Development Grant, R16-million earmarked for the acquisition of land was not spent.

This money was sourced to acquire the land for development of much-needed houses.

De Lange states that Makwakwa also needs to clarify the following in the budget:

• R286-m to service 16 000 stands.

“In the business plan, the Human Settlements Department said it would service 7 621 stands and needed R400-m for that, however, nothing of this nature was budgeted for as far as service stands are concerned,” says de Lange.

• R37-m to refurbish rental houses.

“Of which only 15 projects were identified, what about the rest?” he asks.

• In the last financial year, council budgeted and approved R50-m for social housing.

“To date, this amount remains unspent. Why then, was another R44-m budgeted?” says de Lange.

“While the metro gives the people empty promises, the DA will continue to hold the ANC to account and we will not cease to be the voice of the voiceless.”