The City approved the special adjustments budget for the Medium-Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework (MTREF) 2020/21 tabled by Mayor Kaunda today, 30 September 2020 at a Full Council meeting.
The MTREF 2020/21 was approved earlier this year in May and has been revised via an adjustments budget as per Section 28 of the MFMA.
Kaunda said that the adjustment budget comes as a result of securing additional financial resources to ensure that service delivery, particularly to poor communities, is not compromised due to the implications and ramifications of the Covid-19 pandemic. Costs relating to Covid_19 expenditure was funded by savings identified by various departments through the reprioritisation of costs.
The budget increased from R48.8 billion to R 49.8 billion for the 2020/21 financial year in the special adjustment. The operational budget has increased to over R44.3 billion to ensure that the municipality increases and enhances its operational efficiency.
The capital budget increased from R4,7 billion to R5.5 billion to improve the infrastructure for better service delivery and the improvement of human settlements, public transport, water, electricity and sanitation infrastructure.
According to Kaunda the municipality was able to stabilise collection rates and cash flow during this uncertain period, despite the major impact of the pandemic which had a devastating effect on globally.
“We are proud to have been able to weather the storm and through the sound economic recovery plan that we have approved, we will continue to improve and attract new investment, stimulate growth and provide much-needed jobs,” said Kaunda.
Speaking on the City’s finances he praised the City’s first quarter results which had seen a steady increase in cash flow and collection rates of around 90%.
The increase emphasizes a pro-poor budget through which service delivery around water and sanitation, electricity, infill sites and human settlements will be prioritized with a special focus on catalytic projects that is expected to create employment and grow the economy.
“As many jobs have been lost during this period, the City made an application for a public employment programme grant that focuses on job creation in infrastructure programmes,” said Kaunda.
Kaunda cautioned those who may view these adjustments as an opportunity to enrich themselves and warned that corruption will not be tolerated. He stressed that the City remained committed to the principles of accountability and clean governance and that anyone who steals from the poor by misappropriating state resources would face the full might of the law.
Before ending his address Kaunda expressed his sympathies and sadness for the latest incidents of Gender Based Violence (GBV) directed at women and children in KwaMashu and the recent killing of 10 people in KwaNdengezi. He urged the communities to come forward with information that could help the police solve these horrific criminal acts.
