“The 2024/2025 budget we are presenting today is indeed a true reflection of our commitment, to ensure that we improve the lives of our people in Metsimaholo and push back the frontiers of poverty within a sound and sustainable fiscal framework.”
These were the words of Executive Mayor of Metsimaholo Local Municipality Cllr Jack Malindi as he delivered the State of the Municipal Address at the Municipal Council Chambers in Sasolburg last week Friday.
When making the future plans, Malindi said it was also important to reflect on the past. He did so as he reflected on municipality’s performance in the 2023/2024 financial year.
“It is important to reflect on this period, as understanding our past experiences will allow us to gain a better understanding of our current situation and inspire strategic action, so that we can build a prosperous future for the community of Metsimaholo.
“We are better equipped to cope with the pressing needs of our municipality by looking back at last year’s successes, challenges, and lessons.
“This reflection provides valuable information on the effectiveness of our policies and initiatives, highlights areas where we have made significant progress; and identifies opportunities to improve our progress. We seek to use these insights for the purpose of informing our decision and drawing up a roadmap that leads to sustainable development, improvements in services and better quality of life for all Metsimaholo residents,” said the Executive Mayor.
He said since the inception of this political administration seven months ago, signposts have been passed and landmarks reached in an effort to create a better life for all people, and according to him some of them included the appointment of the Municipal Manager and Chief Financial Officer effective from 01 April 2024.
Malindi emphasised that the roles of the municipal manager and the CFO are integral to the effective functioning of the municipality.
“We have also paid registration fees for more than 100 young people through the Mayoral Tertiary Funding at different tertiary institutions such as the University of the Free State and Northwest University, for the 2024 academic year, amounting to more than 500 thousand Rand.
“Our free basic services Programme currently supports more than 7429 indigents households with six kilolitres free water, 50-kilowatt free electricity, free sanitation, and free waste removal, as well as a 50-rand subsidy on property rates and intends to increase the number to 13 000 indigents registered.
“We want to make an earnest and sincere appeal to our residents whose total income is R5 680 rand and less, we encourage our residents to come and register as an indigent to benefit from this free basic services Programme. This is a Programme that has been designed specifically to help our people, especially in the situation we are currently finding ourselves in.” added Malindi
He presented an operating revenue of R2,156 billion rand for the new financial year and the operating expenditure appropriation is 1.8 billion Rand, which translates into a budgeted surplus of 317.5 million Rand.
The capital budget decreased to 144.8 million Rand from 155.4 million Rand in 2024/2025 financial year.
Municipal Infrastructure Grant over three financial years amounts to 156.5 million Rand and will be spent on the following projects:
• Zamdela: Upgrading of rusted galvanized water pipe
• Zamdela: Construction of 2.1km paved roads and storm water Drainages Phase 2
• Refurbishment of Oranjeville Water treatment work
• Gortin: Construction of 2000 toilet structures Phase 1
The total budget for Water Service Infrastructure Grants amounts to 77.3 million Rand from 2024/25 to 2026/2027 financial years. The grant will be allocated as follows:
• The Water service Infrastructure grant budget allocation for Deneysville Outfall Sewer project
• There’s a budget allocation of 500 thousand Rand for conventional water meters funded internally to be implemented in 2024/2025 financial year.
• There’s a budget provision amounting to 23.3 million Rand for Oranjeville water Treatment Plant Phase 2
Malindi remains hopeful that the budget will play a significant role in changing lives of people of Metsimaholo.
To read the full State of the Municipality Address, click on this link: STATE OF THE MUNICIPAL ADDRESS 2024
