Ekurhuleni commits to pro-poor agenda
The budget was informed by the views of the residents
Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, the MMC for finance and economic development in Ekurhuleni, delivered the city’s pro-poor budget speech in Eden Park near Polar-Park in Thokoza.
Xhakaza said the budget was delivered in the township in response to community complaints that government events often took place far from the people they served.
He said this was profound because the budget was informed by the views of the residents, which they acquired through the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget consultation processes. The city held public IDP and budget consultative meetings from April 11 to 19 with residents and various stakeholders.
Last year, the city of Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina launched the Siyaqhuba programme as part of a drive to ensure that service delivery issues were rapidly responded to and more importantly, the people of the metro were closer to their public representatives.
“In line with our agenda of running a ‘pro-poor’ administration we continue to provide a social package to our people, mainly the most vulnerable and indigent members of society, at a cost of R3.7-billion to the institution,” Xhakaza said last week when presenting the budget to residents gathered at Eden Park.
Tabling the R37.5-billion operating budget and R6.9-billion capital and infrastructure budget, Xhakaza said this was the most progressive budget ever in the City’s history.
“We revealed a clear framework of sustenance and service delivery improvement, transformation of society and the city, and our ambition to be the preferred destination for investment and growth — where the poor and the rich can co-exist in a mutually beneficial environment — where they are empowered to realise their dreams and aspirations,” said Xhakaza.
“Today we have tabled a very progressive budget that can only make our city a better place to live, play and invest. Our people have today, like every year, heard how we are going to spend their money on turning their lives around. After all, the budget, as always, is informed by their views, which we acquire through the IDP and budget consultation processes.”
For the 2018-2019 financial year, the budgeted operating expenditure is expected to be R37.5billion, comprising revenue generated internally (R29.2-billion), operating grants (R6-billion) and capital grants (R2.3-billion).
Xhakaza said spending on capital and infrastructure projects was expected to be R6.9-billion in 2018 and 2019, an increase of R300-million from the 2017/18 financial year. The capital budget will comprise revenue generated internally (R976.1-million), government grants (R2.3-billion) and loans (R3.6-billion), he pointed out.
Xhakaza added that the city of Ekurhuleni was determined to eliminate unauthorised expenditure.
He said the city delivered good quality services to its citizens because it was run by management that was committed to clean financial management and efficient administration.
This has been confirmed in the auditor general’s recently released 2016-2017 financial year audit report, which revealed a complete elimination of unauthorised expenditure in the city.
“Ekurhuleni achieved an unqualified audit for the year, with a reduction in the number of