Tshwane: DA welcomes pro-poor budget as City absorbs tariff increases

by John Moodey – DA Gauteng Leader

The DA-led City of Tshwane has set and passed its R36.8 billion budget for the 2018/19 financial year by 124 votes in favour and 83 against. The DA welcomes this pro-poor budget which will benefit the people of Tshwane. Tariffs will remain low and more will be invested in infrastructure that will enable opportunities.

The vote ends months of public participation meetings, where the City’s financial plans were discussed with residents.

Thousands of residents in areas like Hammanskraal, Mabopane, Winterveld and Bronkhorstspruit will now have access to electricity, water and better sanitation, where there was previously no investment into bulk infrastructure.

Although the National Energy Regulator, NERSA, and Rand Water have proposed electricity and water tariff increases of 7.32% and 6.5% respectively, the City will absorb a part of these tariff charges by cutting all unnecessary expenditure. The DA-led City of Tshwane will therefore only charge residents 6.5% for electricity and 10% for water to assist poor people who cannot afford basic services.

This is despite the fact that when the DA took over the administration of the City, we inherited a service delivery backlog owing to many years of ANC maladministration and illegal contracts. These include the PEU Smart Meter Broadband contract that cost the City more than a billion rand a year.

We have also ensured that municipal supply chain processes, which were never followed by the ANC administration, are now enforced.

The City will put R122 million towards creating the 23 000 Expanded Public Works Programme jobs that were promised to residents earlier this year. 16 000 People have already benefitted from the City’s EPWP jobs initiative.

We are pleased that crime has also been prioritised as R2 billion will go towards the Tshwane Metro Police Department’s crime fighting initiatives.

It won’t happen overnight but the DA is working hard to bring change to the people of Tshwane. Through clean governance, the DA is committed to bringing about order that builds one South Africa for all.