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Inadequate ward budget allocations that had DA Ward councillors fuming have led to the Nelson Mandela Bay municipal budget being postponed for further engagement. Insignificant budget allocations of as little as R250 000 per ward led to DA Ward councillors demanding a redraft of the capital budget in a bid to secure more funding for their residents.

One of the key concerns of ward councillors is the collapsing state of existing infrastructure. Over the past couple of years residents have seen how decaying infrastructure has started to compromise water and electricity supply in the Metro. Ageing and collapsing road infrastructure is yet another major cause for concern which councillors feel need to be addressed before the road refurbishment backlog gets too big.

National Treasury has issued a guideline that some 40% of municipal capital budgets need to be set aside for the refurbishment and/or replacement of existing infrastructure.

Besides concerns relating to the ward-based budgets, the DA also had the following demands in respect of the budget:

A costed turnaround plan be implemented to curtail the rampant electricity losses in the Metro.

The proposed change in inclining block tariff structures be discarded. This proposal would cost domestic consumers a 54% increase for the first 300 units of electricity purchased.

Punitive water tariffs be lifted altogether as it is immoral to charge residents punitive tariffs for water when the dams are overflowing.

A costed turnaround plan be implemented to curtail the rampant water losses in the Metro.

Long outstanding senior management positions be filled within three months.

A more equitable or fair rates tariff for peri-urban small holdings.

Sufficient budget for basic service delivery so that streetlights, potholes, water and sewage leaks can be fixed.

The DA is in your corner, fighting for you. Together we can get NMB working again.

Issued by Cllr Morne Steyn - DA NMB Acting Caucus Leader