Midvaal council approves R1.8 billion 2023/2024 budget
Following extensive IDP and draft budget engagements with residents and different stakeholders from across the municipality, Midvaal Local Municipality’s Council has unanimously approved the 2023/2024 financial budget.
The budget is a result of the municipality’s identification of strategic objectives and its efforts to balance them with the available resources to ensure sustainable and exceptional service delivery.
The Gauteng Provincial Treasury assessed the budget and found it to be credible, relevant, and fully funded.
These are the key aspects of the budget:
• The expenditure budget for the 2023/2024 financial year is R1.8 billion.
• The capital budget for the 2023/2024 financial year is R259 million.
• The capital and operational grants account for R294 million.
• Repairs and maintenance budget makes up 12.86% of the total expenditure, which is up from 10% from the previous financial year.
• The tariff increases for assessment rates and sanitation are 6.75%, refuse removal is 7%, Water 9.2%, and electricity 15.1%, subject to NERSA approval.
• The revenue budgeted for the 2023/2024 financial year is R1,796 billion, an increase of 9.09% on the current year’s budgeted revenue.
Here are some of the key capital projects that the municipality will embark on to continue to meet its service delivery mandate:
Electrification for Sicelo Community
A total of R50 million has been allocated for the electrification of Sicelo. This will ensure that communities such as Kuvukiland, Extension 5 and Stand 118 of Sicelo have legal electricity connections.
Electrification of Savanna City
R45 million has been allocated from the Integrated National Electrification Programme (INEP) and will be used over the Medium Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework (MTREF) to electrify Savanna City as well as increase electricity capacity.
Savanna City 88KvA line
Another R45 million from the INEP and R15 million loan funding will be used over the MTREF for the 3.8km 88KvA line from the Ironside Eskom substation to Savannah City. This will increase capacity to accommodate the expansion of Savannah City.
Road infrastructure
R68.5 million has been allocated to roads over the MTREF. 5km of roads will be re-surfaced (overlaid) and 2km of roads will be regravelled. Rehabilitation is planned for Johan le Roux amongst other roads.
Aged Bulk Water pipe replacement
R64.8 million has been allocated in the MTREF to replace 57km of pipeline which will result in the reduction of water losses. A further R21 million has been allocated in the MTREF for the purchase of logging devices and a meter reading system as well as a telemetry pressure management smart controller system to curb the highwater losses.
Safety and Security
The crime prevention unit will be equipped with 2 high-speed vehicles. CCTV cameras will be rolled out to the Western and Northern regions with an increase in licence plate recognition cameras. An amount of R9 million has been set aside for this over the MTREF. With this budget, we, as a municipality, are confident that we will be able to continue providing excellent service delivery, prioritize the creation of an enabling environment for job opportunities, establish favourable investment conditions, and make significant strides in improving the lives of our residents.
