Francis Baard’s mayor highlights achievements
A LIST of achievements were highlighted yesterday as the Frances Baard District Municipality acknowledged the first year since the inauguration of the new council, led by the Executive Mayor, Buyiswa Ximba, at the end of August last year.
Shortly after taking up the reigns, the district municipality received the Govan Mbeki Housing Award for the best level 2 accredited municipality in the Province, as well as the national award in the same category.
Since then it has been very active, with December seeing the enforcement of the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, as well as the establishment of a district municipal planning tribunal, together with the Phokwane, Dikgatlong and Magareng municipalities, in order to receive and dispose of land development applications and land use applications.
Earlier this year, the district municipality handed over two tractors to the Dikgatlong Municipality and provided training for the operators, as well as two bakkies to the same municipality for used by the electrical maintenance team.
In July a service agreement was concluded with Phokwane Municipality for the continued delivery of municipal health services until the end June.
A similar memorandum of understanding was signed also with the Sol Plaatje Municipality, also for the delivery of municipal health services until the end of June 2020.
Among its list of achievements, the district municipality has also assisted 26 first year students, 15 second year and seven third and fourth years through the mayoral fund.
Twelve SSMEs from Phokwane and Magareng municipalities were capacitated on new venture creation, while 58 volunteers were trained in fire and veld fire fighting techniques.
A total of R5 million was provided to the Sol Plaatje Municipality to reseal main collector routes, with specific focus on Ritchie, while a CBD renewal plan was developed for Dikgatlong Municipality. Several health awareness campaigns were conducted at schools and communities in the area.
The municipality also provided assistance to the Phokwane Business Support Centre in the form of furniture and computer equipment, and been involved in the Gong-Gong feasibility study and business plan development project, which will see the development of riverside banks close to GongGong waterfall into a safe, attractive and durable tourism attraction.
The first phase of the N18 Tourism route development is also underway and will focus on the upgrading, restoration and signage of heritage and tourism sites, while the
Ganspan business plan has been developed. This project involves the upgrading of infrastructure on the banks of Ganspan, also into a tourist attraction.
The district municipality further assisted the Dikgatlong Municipality in facilitating the construction of an old age centre in Delportshoop, while R388 638 was spent on assisting destitute families within the Phokwane, Magareng and Dikgatlong municipalities.
An agricultural sector strategy has also been developed to ensure the long-term viability, empowerment, diversity and equitable participation in the agricultural sector.
In its 2017/18 budget, the municipality has allocated 26% of its budget to the Department Infrastructure Services, which includes physical and infrastructure development and housing.
A further 20% of its operating budget will got towards other special projects for both the district municipality and its local municipalities.
It will continue in this financial year to invest in preparing young graduates for the job market through its internship programme, and 21 interns have been employed, while the mayoral bursary fund has been increased to R600 000 in an effort to assist more needy students to access tertiary education.
A total of R650 000 has been allocated to provide support to local municipalities on financial related matters, while operations and maintenance of infrastructure has received an allocation of R10 million in the budget, and other social economic related projects a total of R26.5 million.
The basic services focus areas will include the reduction of backlogs in water, sanitation, electricity, street and stormwater and community facilities, assisting local municipalities to perform their responsibilities in providing basic services, operation and maintenance, promoting the creation of job opportunities for the unemployed through the EPWP programmes, and facilitate the reduction of the housing backlog.