The Democratic Alliance (DA) voted against the 2022/2023 Rand West City Local Municipality budget for failing to make provision for the maintenance and repairs of the town’s infrastructure.
The budget was tabled for a second time after the DA successfully opposed the budget as the 3% provision made for repairs and maintenance of the town’s infrastructure was not sufficient.
This was increased to 3,2% which comes to an amount of R77 million, an amount far below the required 6 to 8% as set out by the National Treasury.
An amount of R1 million has now been included in the capital budget for the upgrading of the electrical networks of the agricultural holdings. This area needs far more investment to protect the residents from constant electricity outages caused by the old dilapidated electrical networks.
Provision was also made in the budget after the DA raised the lack of inclusion of funding for the conditions as stated in the recent plea agreement regarding the Randfontein Wastewater Treatment Works such as the appointment of millwrights to maintain the wastewater treatment works and for the R3 million that has to be spent on maintenance and repairs of the Randfontein Wastewater Treatment Works.
The budget was passed with a vote of 37 for and 19 against the budget – despite objections from the DA.
Although several of the items that the DA raised in the previous meeting has now been included and provisioned for, we still cannot approve a budget that does not adequately make provision for the maintenance and repairs of the town’s infrastructure.
The DA will continue to hold the ANC and their alliance partners accountable to deliver the services as budgeted for in the 2022/2023 budget.