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The draft budget presented by the Intervention Team in collaboration with the Administration and the Executive Mayor remain an unfunded budget with unrealistic tariffs and will not enable good basic service delivery

In the run-up to this second budget meeting the DA, as official opposition presented not only an alternative budget, but also made proposals regarding amendments to the draft budget which, if effected, can produce a budget that is funded, increases in tariffs that shows compassion to struggling residents and a bulked up operational budget which will allow good basic services.

The Executive Mayor unfortunately today again treated both councillors and residents with the utmost disrespect by giving alternative figures during his speech and attempting to create a perception that our suggestions were incorporated, all while the actual draft budget document remained unchanged.

In terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act there could be at the most two more opportunities to pass the budget before the end of June 2022, failing which the Council will be dissolved.

While the DA is convinced that the long term solution to poor governance and the lack of service delivery lies in the removal of the ANC from government in Mangaung, we will yet again engage the ANC in a constructive manner in order to try and ensure that the budget tabled at the next meeting is in the best interests of residents.

Only if our proposals around lower increases in tariffs, a cut to the ever ballooning wage bill and an operational budget that will enable both maintenance and repairs and good and sustainable basic services like the repair of potholes, water leaks, street lighting, storm water drainage, road markings, sewerage blockages and reliable refuse removal and refuse management are accepted will we add our votes in support of the budget.

Issued by Cllr Johan Pretorius - DA Mangaung Caucus Leader & Ward Councillor (Ward 48)