Note to Broadcasters: Please find linked soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Cllr Johannes le Grange.
The DA in the City of Matlosana Local Municipality rejects the ANC-run municipality’s budget.
The ANC once again demonstrated a lack of understanding in good financial management principles by once again tabling an unfunded budget with an inflated projected income of R4,2 billion while Matlosana could only collected R3,4 billion in revenue during the previous financial year.
The DA rejected the budget on the following grounds:
1. Only 28 000 out of 112 000 municipal accounts are being serviced;
2. No debt recovery plan to collect R7,6 billion in unpaid debts;
3. No plan to address the R200 million incurred in water losses;
4. No plan to address the R322 million incurred in electricity losses through electricity theft and illegal connections;
5. Only 4% of the budget is earmarked for infrastructure maintenance and expansions instead of 8% as per the national guideline;
6. Matlosana forfeited R25 million in unspent grants to National Treasury during the previous financial year;
7. Matlosana has no plan to promote local economic development through attracting new investments;
8. Extended delays in the installation of smart meter reading systems;
9. No plan to correct the municipality’s billing crisis.
Matlosana under the ANC is a classic example of a failed municipality that refuses to put the needs of residents first.
The DA will, through our spokesperson on Finance in the North West Provincial Legislature, Jacqueline Theologo MPL, write to the MEC of Finance, Motlalepula Rosho, requesting immediate intervention in Matlosana’s finances in order to restore services to the people.
The only way to rebuild Matlosana is to vote the ANC out and vote the DA into government the upcoming 2024 national elections.