Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Madra de Bruin
The DA will, through our DA Spokesperson on Finance, Wolfgang Wallhorn, write to the North West MEC of Finance, Kenetswe Mosenogi, requesting urgent intervention in the newly approved budget of JB Marks Municipality.
This after the new budget with a deficit of R151 million was approved by the ruling political parties (ANC, PA, and EFF) despite strong objections by the DA and VF Plus.
The DA recommended that the Provincial Treasury be invited to address the discrepancy in the different interpretations of the same budget before the budget is adopted. When this was refused, the DA abstained from voting in order to avoid giving legitimacy to the procedurally flawed budget process and proposed budget.
This proposed budget is based on empty promises and not on reality. The already struggling municipality simply cannot afford all the projects planned.
This budget is based on money that the municipality simply does not have and will not have. If there’s no money to fund these promises, the result will be more broken services, more broken promises, and a city in even worse financial shape.
JB Marks needs infrastructure improvements and upgrades to address the sewer problems and the unreliable electricity and water issues.
The current Eskom bulk supply debt is at an astounding R700 million and escalates by between R70 million and R120 million each month. These figures will climb even more once the 12.7% electricity tariff increase approved by NERSA kicks in.
The residents of JB Marks have suffered enough, and they deserve better. The DA will continue to fight for service delivery and good governance in JB Marks.