Mayor Khuzwayo-Dlamini Tables The Draft Budget For 2023/24

Maphumulo Local Municipality, Her Worship the Mayor, Cllr Zibuyisile Khuzwayo-Dlamini tabled the 2023/2024 Budget for Council’s adoption during its meeting held on Wednesday 31 May 2023 at the Municipal Council Chambers.

In the words of Mayor Khuzwayo-Dlamini as she presented her budget to the Maphumulo Council, “This budget represents our commitment to meeting the needs of our community. When we took office in February 2023, we promised to work tirelessly to make our Municipality a better place for all its residents. I am proud to say we have made significant progress towards achieving our goal. We have taken bold steps to address the pressing issues facing our Municipality. We have launched initiatives to improve service delivery and revitalise our community.”

“The 2023/2024 draft budget creates hope, for our community and business alike as we will be creating infrastructure investment and improving living conditions whilst at the same time creating employment opportunities.”

We have taken bold steps to address the pressing issues facing our Municipality. We have launched initiatives to improve service delivery and revitalise our community.”

The draft budget includes an operating revenue budget, excluding capital grants, of R145 397 million, and operating expenditure equates to R145 129 million for the 2023/2024 financial year. This leaves an operating surplus of merely R269 000.

The total capital expenditure budget amounts to R26 million for the 2023/2024 fiscal year. This expenditure is to be funded through government grants of R22 million and own internally generated funds of R4 million.

In terms of the expenditure on conditional grants allocation, Mayor Khuzwayo-Dlamini added that:

• R 24 986 million for Municipal infrastructure;
• R 28 168  million for Integrated National Electrification;
• R 1 850 million for Financial Management Grant;
• R 1 524 million for Expanded Public Works Program grant with a top-up of internally generated revenue of R600 000; and
• R 2 673 million for Library Grants

Mayor Khuzwayo-Dlamini said that the report addresses the operating budget and tariff proposals, and the capital budget and funding source proposals, to ensure that the Municipality renders its services in a financially sustainable manner. “It costs a lot of money to run a Local Municipality and deliver basic services. We know that revenue must be generated sustainably if we are to continue fulfilling our mandate of basic service delivery. Rates and tariffs remain an important income stream to the Municipality.”

Indigent residents, senior citizens, people living with disabilities and poor households may apply for a rates rebate. Provision is made in the operating budget for subsidies to 3028 indigent households which includes 50kw units of electricity, and a 100% subsidy for refuse removal charges.

The Council approved the budget. This report details a realistic plan for reaching our ultimate goal of creating a better life for all citizens of Maphumulo. Maphumulo Local Municipality continues to commit in community development.

Ends.

Issued by the Communications Unit on behalf of the Office of the Mayor.