KWA-MHLANGA – With a commitment to addressing the water scarcity challenge facing the community, Thembisile Hani Municipality has allocated more than 80% of its capital budget to water-centric initiatives. This was announced during the State of the Municipality Address (SOMA) held at Kgodwana Cultural Village in Kwa-Mhlanga on Thursday, August 8, 2024.
Mayor Lesetja Dikgale stated that his administration has prioritised water projects, dedicating over 80% of the capital budget to ensure water security.
Prominent projects such as the Bundu Purification Scheme and the Loskop Enhancement Programme are aimed at increasing water supply by 30 to 50 mega litres per day. This will reduce dependence on external sources and address the longstanding issue of water scarcity.
Furthermore, Dikgale presented a summarised financial plan for the 2024/2025 fiscal year amounting to R1.21 billion, with R238 million earmarked for infrastructure development projects, focusing primarily on improving essential services such as water and road systems.
The anticipated budget surpluses are expected to increase significantly from R111.3 million in 2024/25 to R213 million by 2026/27. “This indicates prudent resource management aimed at improving service delivery,” the mayor stated. “Investment in road maintenance and restoration is also a priority for the municipality, featuring new technology that is set to extend the life of the roads.”
To enhance waste management, the municipality plans to procure three new refuse compactor trucks with a budget of R8.5 million to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for all residents.
In support of local economic development, the municipality has set aside R5 million to assist small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) with both financial and non-financial support. “Particularly those focused on manufacturing commodities,” the mayor said. “Working with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the municipality is reviving the Kwa-Mhlanga Show to showcase different businesses across all sectors. Further economic initiatives will include signing new social labour plans with our mining houses, which will focus on infrastructure and local economic development.”
As part of revitalising the tourism sector, he mentioned that the municipality is actively collaborating with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism to restore Zithabiseni Resort to its former glory and serve as a focal point for destinations like Mabusa Game Resort and the Esther Mahlangu Route, enabling local guesthouses to benefit from the influx of tourists to these areas.
Acknowledging the significance of youth development, the municipality will allocate R500,000 through the Thembisile Chris Hani Youth Brigades to academically deserving learners for their enrolment in institutions of higher education.
Moreover, the municipality pledges to strive towards achieving a clean audit outcome to foster a culture of ethical and moral conduct underpinned by professional administration. “As part of building confidence in the operations of our institution, we will work hard in the 2023/24 financial year to achieve a clean audit, so that our people know that their taxes are used responsibly for their socio-economic development,” Dikgale pledged.
Dikgale emphasised that revenue collection has improved to 22% and disclosed that a revenue enhancement conference took place in April last year as part of boosting the municipality’s collection rate. “A key concern raised was the need to address precise billing, a matter our administration is actively pursuing through a data cleansing initiative aimed at accurately reflecting the amount each household is due to pay,” he said. Dikgale further called on corporates to start paying for services to address the financial challenges faced by the municipality.
He indicated that the municipality will require all businesses, government departments, and organisations operating within its jurisdiction to sign a pledge to contribute towards improved service delivery by paying for these services.
The opposing EFF criticised Dikgale’s speech for lacking a clear plan on how he will address water challenges. “While we listened to the mayor’s address, we view it as somewhat idealistic due to the lack of detailed action plans for the topics he touched upon. Water is essential for life, leaving us helpless without it,” remarked Ntombi Motaung, the party’s chief whip.
“The proposal for a technical school is commendable, as it would equip our youth with valuable skills, and should be made accessible free of charge.”
