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The Democratic Alliance wishes to congratulate the City of Tshwane and Ekurhuleni for tabling their draft budget and Integrated Development plan (IDPs) during their Council meetings held today. This is despite the ANC’s efforts to derail both Council meetings through destructive behaviour.

These draft budgets come after months of consultations with our coalition partners and in agreement to improve service delivery for the people of both cities.

The Tshwane draft budget and Integrated Development Plan (IDP) prioritises improving the electricity grid, water infrastructure and core service delivery items. The following projects will be prioritised:

Refurbishment of Mooikloof, Wapadrand, Pyramid, Kentron and Rosslyn substations to ensure a stable supply of electricity and avoid power outages that have plagued many areas in the city. 4 700 new dwellings will also be connected to the electricity grid.

Construction of new reservoirs in Booysens to assist vulnerable communities in Phomolong, Kopanong and Zithobeni. We will also facilitate 5 500 new water meters and 1 800 new sewer connections.

Rehabilitation and building of new roads to expand the Bus Rapid Transit system. Priority in the next year is towards the construction of roads and stormwater in Mapobane X1, Refile Manor X9, Fort West X5, Garankuwa, Olievenhoutbosch X60, Soshanguve Ext 19, X12, X13, X5, Wintervelt and Zithobeni.

Social housing projects to build over 600 units in Chatelle, 607 units in Timberlands and 1 200 units in Townlands.

The DA would like to congratulate Mayor Tania Campbell who delivered her state of the city address on Wednesday. Under Mayor Campbell’s stewardship, the City of Ekurhuleni is on track to restoring and improving service delivery.

In her address Mayor Campbell highlighted the following priorities and achievements:

• The City has appointed 47 Private Power Producers to provide electricity from 2024 onwards, which will dramatically decrease Ekurhuleni’s dependence on Eskom, freeing more residents of load shedding.
• Nine water towers and reservoirs will be built by June 2023 to decrease water outages.
• The City will aim to complete the Daveyton/N12 interchange by the end of the next financial year, and construct a 13km dual carriageway to replace the Barry Marais road from Vosloorus to the N17 by 2026.
• 29 000m² of roads have been patched within the first 100 days, while 80km of road will be rehabilitated by June 2023.
• 3 000 title deeds will be distributed during the next financial year.
• EMPD stations will be opened in Edleen and Benoni during the next financial year.
• Since the adoption of the adjustment budget in February 2022, the City is on track to increase its surplus for the next financial year from R140 million to R316 million.

Both cities will open the draft budget and IDPs to the public for their inputs, the DA urges residents to participate in this process to ensure that their voices are heard so that we can have budgets in place that is in the interest of all residents.

Issued by Solly Msimanga, MPL - DA Gauteng Provincial Leader