Note to Broadcasters: Please find linked soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Cllr Jan Brand.
The DA in the Naledi Local Municipality objected to the ANC’s attempt to adopt an unfunded adjustment budget for the 2023/2024 financial year. The budget tabled during a Council meeting last week was unfunded by R174 million.
The ANC-led Council tried to reduce its audit outcomes and remove established oversight mechanisms that should prevent unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
The ANC’s unfunded adjustment budget would not have improved service delivery to residents and increasing a budget on paper does not equate to an actual increase in funds in the municipal bank account.
Naledi’s administration confirmed during the Council meeting that should debt collection be raised to 95%, which is the national norm, the municipality’s budget will remain unfunded for a minimum of 2 years. The municipal debt collection currently stands at 69%.
Fortunately, the DA succeeded in convincing the majority of Council not to adopt the unfunded adjustment budget.
It was decided, through the DA’s recommendation, that the unfunded adjustment budget will be sent back to the Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Kagisa Maruping, to be adjusted and returned to Council for consideration. Council resolved to adopt the adjustment budget only to the extent that provision must be made for the inclusion of funds received from various provincial and national departments as well as a financial recovery plan.
The DA will continue to monitor the state of Naledi’s finances and ensure that funding towards improving service delivery is prioritised.
DA-led municipal governments table fully funded budgets that improve service delivery and the quality of life of all residents. This year a vote for the DA is a vote for a functional local government that delivers services to all.
