The Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality has secured a R182-million loan from the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) to deal with backlogs in socioeconomic infrastructure programmes such as water and sanitation, roads, electricity and housing.

Ekurhuleni initiated a multimillion-rand capital expansion programme to accelerate the implementation of its Integrated Development Plan, while constructing and rehabilitating municipal infrastructure to drive its socioeconomic development.

Despite making significant progress in improving the delivery of subsidised basic services, constructing roads, providing housing, combating corruption and creating a safe and secure environment, it was estimated that in the Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality 19% of households have no access to electricity, 18% are without water and 32% without proper sanitation services, said DBSA South Africa northern cluster divisional executive Bethuel Netshiswinzhe.

The costs of eradicating the existing infrastructure backlogs in municipalities were also increasing on a daily basis.