Tshwane focuses on jobs
Mayor’s budget to upgrade poor areas
Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga has promised to use R4-billion of the city’s R32.5billion budget to create jobs and upgrade informal settlements and infrastructure.
Msimanga said yesterday that this would be achieved through a financially efficient plan that will improve the lives of residents.
The budget reflects a focus on previously neglected areas with an allocated budget of R290-million. “These areas include Malusi, Hammanskraal and Zithobeni that for some time didn’t have any form of infrastructure being put into those places.”
Msimanga said informal settlements would be receiving access to water and sanitation as part of the housing programmes and will cost the city R132-million in the upcoming financial year.
The mayor said tariffs will be kept as low as possible, while prioritising the needs of vulnerable and poor communities.
He said property tariffs will increase by 6% from July 1, except for business, commercial and industrial properties, which will increase 4%.
“I wrote to Rand Water and the National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa). Rand Water proposed a 12.7% hike and we are reducing it to 10% while Nersa was proposing 7.32% and we are charging 6.84%. As the city, we are prepared absorb the balance,” he said.
Msimanga said properties below the value of R130 000 will not have to pay rates, along with pensioners, while people earning less than R8 000 a month will receive a 50% rebate on rates and taxes.
“The city is internalising some of the costs so that the full amount is not passed on to our residents and business owners,” said Msimanga.
ANC shadow MMC for finance Refilwe Kekana said there was nothing new in the DA-led administration’s budget. “Firstly, there is a huge element of transparency – the draft budget was not publicised … The city’s finances are not in good order and … it’s not even able to pay its creditors.”