Ugu District Municipality will be delivering water and sanitation services to the community within the council approved budget of R1, 3 Billion for the 2016/17 financial year.
This budget has been developed with an overall planning framework which includes programmes and projects tailored to achieve the municipality’s strategic objectives. An allocation of more than R368 million of capital budget reflect the municipality’s consistent efforts towards the eradication of service delivery backlogs of water and sanitation, especially in poor and marginalised areas of the district by prioritising capital projects in these areas
And with an allocation of more than R964 million of operational budget, this will make provision for the continuation of the services provided by the Municipality. This includes the provision of costs to address service delivery backlogs, bulk purchases of water, repairs and maintenance of the municipal infrastructure and related costs.
The provisions in this budget continue to support Ugu District municipality’s commitment to broadening service delivery and expanding investment in infrastructure, while taking into account the constrained fiscal environment. This budget has been developed to contribute towards the Municipality’s strategic objectives of the IDP. Through this service delivery plan, the municipality have ensured that more residents have access to water and basic sanitation services.
Despite the effects of the global recession on the economy, the Municipality has made strides to maintain the water and sanitation tariffs at 5.7% which is below inflation rate. In preparing this budget we have been particularly cognisant of the impact of the current economic environment on our residents. These tariffs will further provide relief on household disposable incomes and not apply pressure on the ability of communities to pay for services.
And in light of this, communities are urged to actively take steps within their own households to reduce their water consumption to prudently manage their financial resources and prioritise paying for municipal services.
Ugu District Municipality will continue in its quest to fast track service delivery in implementing water and sanitation programmes, and also play a pivotal role in fulfilling its mandate through the application of well-coordinated service delivery approaches. During the series of IDP/Budget roadshows, people spoke; we delivered, the people are speaking; we are responding and people are governing. Today, Ugu District Municipality is better than it was Yesterday.
ENDS
ISSUED BY:
UGU DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY
COMMUNICATIONS UNIT