Big crowds attend budget roadshow
UNEMPLOYMENT and water challenges will be prioritised in the R1.4billion King Cetshwayo District Municipality (KCDM) budget.
This was revealed by District Mayor Thami Ntuli during the first Integrated Development Plan (IDP) roadshow at KwaSokhulu on Tuesday.
The roadshows allowed for engagement with various community stakeholders, and hundreds of residents attended to hear the budget plan that comes into effect on 1 July.
Ntuli praised the work done by uMfolozi Mayor Xolani Bhengu.
“I wish to congratulate you residents of uMfolozi for having a mayor of this magnitude. You are truly blessed because he has been in the office for only one year with only a R200-million budget, but his work speaks volumes,” said Ntuli.
He said even district government departments represented at the IDP could not surpass the work done by the local municipality, despite receiving billions.
Addressing the crowd, Bhengu explained how complex it was to lead a municipality that relies on government grants to deliver basic services.
“Being a rural-based municipality, we do not have the privilege to be blessed with private industries from which we can collect tax,” he said.
“However, with the little that is being allocated to us, we were able to complete a number of projects on time. Hence, National Treasury has announced uMfolozi Municipality as the second best in the management of public funds, granting us a further R15-million.”
The next four KCDM IDP roadshows will be held in the City of uMhlathuze, uMlalazi, Mthonjaneni, and Nkandla municipalities.