Latest news with #MMCforFinance
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Tshwane councillors clash over budget
The Tshwane metro council meeting at Tshwane House witnessed intense debates as councillors scrutinised the latest budget. The budget, above R50-billion, was presented by the MMC for Finance and Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise last month. The debates, marked by political tensions and divergent views, highlighted the metro's ongoing financial challenges and the complexities of governance. Modise tabled a fully funded budget for the 2025/26 financial year in a move towards financial sustainability and improved service delivery. The budget was formally endorsed by the National Treasury, marking an achievement for the municipality, previously plagued by financial instability. He hailed his budget as a turning point in Tshwane governance and fiscal management. The budget doesn't rely on external loans or borrowing, which Modise described as 'historic and a reflection of responsible leadership'. Despite the budget's passage with 113 votes, opposition parties raised concerns. The DA rejected and criticised the budget, and described it as using residents as 'cash cows'. DA councillor Jacqui Uys highlighted that the ANC in Tshwane has ignored opposition voices and included another punitive tax on residents. Uys said the plan is to tax every single resident who cannot afford to use the metro's rubbish collectors, at R500 per month, by forcing them to pay R200 per month in the form of a City Cleansing Levy. 'Private waste collectors already pay a fee to utilise the metro's dumping grounds, and those using private collectors will now pay double. Those who cannot afford the metro's rates will be penalised for being poor. 'R20-million is allocated to pay for an advisor, who will facilitate transactions, getting the Rooiwal and Pretoria West Power Stations operated privately. However, the fine print makes it clear that there is no plan to rid Tshwane of Eskom's 93c/KwA Wheeling tariff,' said Uys. She said no independent power producer will be able to sell electricity at the loss this tariff causes. 'The deputy mayor, in his budget speech, celebrated that the water woes of Ikageng are over. In Ikageng, the taps are dry, but water tankers can be found everywhere. This budget has almost doubled the Water and Sanitation Department's water tanker budget.' As Tshwane navigates its financial recovery, the effectiveness of the implemented measures and the administration's commitment to equitable service delivery will remain under scrutiny. Godwin Ratikwane of the EFF commended the MMC of Finance for presenting an improved budget that directly addresses long-standing social injustices raised by communities in the township and informal settlements. He said this budget 'reflects a decisive departure from the neglect of the past administrations and stands as a testament to the party's commitment to uplift the marginalised and make it great again'. 'The fully funded budget backed by the National Treasury is a clear signal that this administration is not merely making hollow promises, but taking concrete steps to transformative change. 'Let it be known that the R1.7-billion allocated to emergency services will revitalise the department, long neglected, and address the communities and the staff shortages that have jeopardised public safety,' said Ratikwana. LISTEN: ActionSA's Tshepo Modiba said this budget is not just a compliance exercise but a plan for inclusive development, service delivery, acceleration, and financial resilience. 'It gives life to the service delivery priorities we have set as a collective. It is a budget that passes both the test of legality and the test of vision. 'We acknowledge that the majority of revenue comes from service charges, and we are strengthening the social package to protect the vulnerable. This budget ensures we maintain the balance between financial stability, sustainability, and social responsibility,' said Modiba. FF Plus councillor Grandi Theunissen rejected the budget and said it places a financial burden on residents, businesses, and property owners. He said instead of the budget fostering growth and stability, it prioritises revenue, extraction over ethical governance, disregards economic realities and fails to uphold financial justice. 'The new valuation role has caused property values to increase for an average of 24.17%, drastically increasing municipal tax obligations, the metro claims to soften the impact by 4%, and adjusting the threshold from R150 000 to R250 000. 'The controversial city cleaning levy unfairly targets households and businesses that do not rely on municipal waste collection, forcing them to pay for services that they do not use. This levy amounts to double taxation,' he said. LISTEN: Modise said the passing of the budget by the council marks a turning point for Tshwane's financial governance and service delivery capabilities. 'The approval of this budget restores credibility to the city's institutional capacity and sends a clear message that Tshwane is moving forward with purpose, discipline, and unity of vision. 'This outcome reflects extensive work behind the scenes, from council engagements to technical planning, all in service of building a city that works better for its people,' Modise said. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- The Citizen
North areas suffer blow to the tune of more than R6m due to cable theft
North areas suffer blow to the tune of more than R6m due to cable theft The metro has disclosed that Region 1, encompassing areas such as Rosslyn, Akasia, Pretoria North, Soshanguve, and Winterveldt, has experienced 243 incidents of cable theft since November 2024. The cost of repairing infrastructure damaged by these thefts amounts to more than R6.78-million for materials alone, excluding labour expenses. The incidents have led to frequent power outages, disrupting daily life and business operations. Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo emphasised the broader impact of cable theft, noting that it is a significant contributor to service delivery interruptions. 'Out of 1.1 million outages recorded across Tshwane last year, a substantial portion of up to 30% is attributed directly to theft and vandalism of power infrastructure,' stated Mashigo. MMC for Finance Eugene Modise said the metro has allocated more than R565-million to the installation of CCTV cameras, the recruitment of 200 more metro police officers from January, and deployment of security personnel to protect its assets, including electricity infrastructure. 'Tshwane is woefully under-protected and we are pursuing a consolidated asset protection strategy that includes both physical security and advanced technological solutions,' said Modise. He added that the metro plans to incorporate modern technology, such as motion detectors and smart surveillance tools, to support and strengthen the efforts of ground security teams. Rosslyn, a key industrial hub in Region 1, has been particularly affected. The Rosslyn Improvement District (RID) has reported disruptions to manufacturing and logistics operations due to the outages. Nico Venter of RID said the district has collaborated with security companies to enhance security measures, including the installation of motion detectors and CCTV cameras at main entrances and increased patrols. 'We are putting up CCTV cameras and motion detectors in some of the electrical infrastructure in the Rosslyn area. And should any suspicious vehicle come into Rosslyn, it is going to be recognised,' said Venter. Residents have expressed growing frustration over the recurring power outages. Akasia resident Joyce Coetzee highlighted the daily challenges posed by the lack of electricity. 'We depend on electricity for everything, from running our appliances to maintaining a comfortable home, and even for our children's education. 'We've been living in the darkness too often lately, and it's unfair. Service delivery continues to be an issue, and our voices are being ignored.' The metro has taken steps to address the issue. Plans are underway to install surveillance cameras at substations undergoing refurbishment. 'This will assist the security personnel to see any intruders at our substations and react on time,' said Mashigo. He said the metro is exploring long-term strategies, such as replacing overhead cables with underground alternatives, to deter theft. However, the feasibility of this solution is limited by physical constraints, such as the availability of servitudes and space to install cables at the required depth of 1m to 1.5m. Residents are urged to participate in community policing forums (CPFs) and assist in neighbourhood patrols to safeguard infrastructure. 'Community members are at liberty to join the CPFs and/or assist in patrolling their neighbourhoods,' said Mashigo. Cable theft in Region 1 of Tshwane has posed a significant challenge, impacting both the economy and quality of life for residents. While the city is implementing measures to combat the issue, community involvement remains crucial in safeguarding essential infrastructure and ensuring consistent service delivery. Nicky Smit of Maximum Security said they continue to patrol the electricity infrastructure in the north in efforts to combat cable theft. Jacques Venter, Representative of the United Independent Movement, said the cable theft situation is not only a severe inconvenience but a blatant infringement on these citizens' rights to essential services. He said children need to go to school, be clean and eat a meal, while old and sick people depend on oxygen to survive. 'There are several old age homes as well as frail care facilities in Akasia that are dependent on electricity and water to care for people who desperately need medical care to be able to live, and without basic services, how would they survive? 'Should we just accept that they have to die because Tshwane has no urgency to attend to and fix the problem?' He said they demand transparency and accountability, not promises and misinformation. 'The residents were told to buy the needed fuses themselves, which cost them R3 600, which is, as a matter of fact, theft by Tshwane metro. 'They were also told by Tshwane Rosslyn that they can go ahead and fit the fuses themselves. The money that residents had to spend on fuses that were needed is unacceptable. Why was it not outsourced from another municipal area?' ALSO READ: Wonderboom airport positioned as SA's future cargo powerhouse Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
