Note to Editors: Please find the letter to Treasury attached here
The government of ANC/EFF/ATM in Mogale City has bullied through an adjustment budget which is in direct contrast with their electoral promises.
They have removed R16.7 million from the rural and informal settlements water supply budget, not even making provision for it in either this, or the next two financial years. They have truly abandoned the most vulnerable amongst us.
The adjustment budget further seeks to auction off land, without detailing the expected revenue thereof.
Budget approvals require a majority of members of a Municipal Council to vote in support. In Mogale City this number is 39 (51%), however the ANC/EFF/ATM coalition only had 36 members present on the day.
The DA has already written to National Treasury, the Auditor General as well as Gauteng Provincial Legislature to whistle blow on this constitutional non-compliance.
We believe that not enough has been done to present a funded budget as required by National Treasury. The budget does not speak to the needs of the residents of Mogale City, nor the functionality of our departments in the city responsible for service delivery.
Examples include:
- Our parks, pavements and cemeteries are being neglected;
- Not enough is being done to address our ageing infrastructure. Water is running down our streets for days due to lack of spares and parts, yet in the adjustment budget R8.4 million is removed from the department, citing its not needed;
- Raw sewerage is running into our rivers. The budget does not support the functionality of the infrastructure department to address this adequately;
- This very council took a resolution to create employment for our residents through insourcing, yet we see an increase of R56 million for outsourced security costs
We implore the ANC/EFF/ATM to rather prepare a funded adjustment budget that improves our revenue stream, to allow departments to fulfil their functions. Better management and implementation of by-laws to enhance income, and compliance to protect infrastructure and critical bio-diversity areas. They make no effort to improve the indigent management programme that would improve equitable share allocations, while also providing our most vulnerable with services such as water, electricity, refuse removal and sanitation.
This budget reeks of political mismanagement, and is proof of the failure of the current executive. The DA will continue to champion service delivery to residents, as well as fiscal discipline and honest transparency to unlock accountability and enhance lives and livelihoods.
Voters need to vote for a credible government that upholds their promises to the electorate and not simply empty rhetoric.