Joburg adopts ‘forgotten people’ budget

25 May 2017 - 19:04 By TMG Digital
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Herman Mashaba, the first DA mayor of Johannesburg, which has been dominated by the ANC since 1994, says nothing is impossible when asked about his qualifications for the job.
Herman Mashaba, the first DA mayor of Johannesburg, which has been dominated by the ANC since 1994, says nothing is impossible when asked about his qualifications for the job.
Image: MOELETSI MABE

The City of Joburg has adopted what it calls its “forgotten people’s” budget – the first tabled by the new council.

The 2017/18 budget‚ together with the Integrated Development Plan‚ were passed in council in Braamfontein on Thursday.

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In passing the budget the Democratic Alliance enjoyed support from the Inkatha Freedom Party‚ Africa Christian Democratic Party‚ United Democratic Movement‚ Congress of the People‚ the Economic Freedom Fighters and the Freedom Front Plus.

The African National Congress voted against the budget.

“I have previously stated that the challenges which we have inherited are many and complex‚ and it will take time to fully address them. However‚ with the budget passed today‚ we can start to meet these challenges head on. Soon the residents of Johannesburg will begin to see the change which they demanded in August last year‚” said Joburg mayor Herman Mashaba.

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Some of the key highlights in the budget include:

  • R40-million to enhance sanitation in informal settlements‚ compared to the R17-million allocated last year;
  • R162.7-million for the provision of additional electricity and water connections in informal settlements. This is an increase of R42.7-million from the previous year;
  • R66-million toward progressively focusing on the site and service housing development approach;
  • the city has set a target of constructing 2‚000 rental accommodation units alongside developing 5‚000 mixed housing development units for the City’s poor;
  • R574-million in capital expenditure and R115-million in operational expenditure has been set aside for the upgrading of 10 informal settlements throughout the City in the 2017/18 financial year. This will be followed by the upgrade of 20 informal settlements in 2018/19 and 21 informal settlements in 2019/20 financial year;
  • R9.5-million will go to the provision of shelters for our displaced people;
  • an allocation of R118.6-million over the medium term for the extension of operating hours of five more clinics;
  • R131-million will go towards increased Johannesburg Metro Police Department visibility on our streets‚ particularly in identified crime hotspots in the city;
  • R16-million will be spent in expanding the city’s small and medium enterprise hubs from seven to 14. This expansion will increase the number of businesses supported per month to 1250 by June‚ 2018; and
  • R5.2-billion has been set aside for the purpose of upgrading existing infrastructure‚ R3.3-billion has been allocated for the development of new infrastructure and R4.3-billion has also been allocated towards progressively addressing much needed repairs and maintenance on our infrastructure system.
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