Today, 1 July 2022, marks the beginning of a new chapter for the City of Johannesburg, residents, and the Multi-Party Government, with the R77,3-billion budget taking effect for the 2022/23 financial year.
The Budget Speech delivered by the Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Finance, Cllr Julie Suddaby, was delivered at the end of May, under theme of The Golden Repair, signalling the hard work we are embarking on.
As the Joburg Multi-Party Government, elected to serve until 2026, we are determined to repair and rebuild South Africa’s economic hub, so that we can truly establish Joburg as the City of Golden Opportunities.
In order to repair and rebuild the City, we have set down 7 Mayoral Priorities as the strategic drivers or areas of focus for our term in office:
1. A City that gets the basics right
2. A safe and secure City
3. A caring City
4. A business-friendly City
5. An inclusive City
6. A well-run City
7. A smart City
These focus areas, overtime, will be felt and seen by Joburg’s 6-million residents, who have been patient for years.
In due time, we will give a Golden Report to the residents of Joburg about what has been done since the Multi-Party Government took office.
Looking forward to the next 12-months, we have allocated over R3-billion to key infrastructure interventions:
• R1.2-billion capital expenditure on electricity infrastructure refurbishments and upgrades (with a further R1,6-billion in operational expenditure earmarked for reduction of power outages)
• R1.1-billion capital expenditure on road infrastructure
• R930-million capital expenditure on water supply and sewer infrastructure
• R89-million capital expenditure on sports and recreation facilities
In this regard, some of the projects earmarked include:
• 122-kilometres of lane roads will be resurfaced
• 15-kilometres of gravel roads are to be upgraded to surface roads
• 2.7-kilometre of open storm water drains will be converted to underground systems
• 1000 public lights will be installed.
The safety and security of residents and visitors has been prioritised by the Multi-Party Government:
• The City’s open and green spaces, will see 150 Park Rangers deployed, with a R1,3-million operational budget to support this safety programme
• Fires in general are of concern, but fire safety is elevated during the Winter months, therefore R200-million will go to the procurement of 20 fire engines
• R1,1-million will also go to re-establishment of Municipal Courts
• R15- million for the the Integrated Intelligence Operating Centre (IIOC)
We allocated R1,8-billion to Health and Social Development, which will see 10 new clinics being built over the next three-years. Further to this, we are moving towards an eHealth system which will see health records centralised and digitised, improving service delivery in primary healthcare; this project will see an injection of R21,5-million.
While, job creation is not the purview of government, we have a responsibility to create an enabling environment. This 2022/23 budget will see 14,500 SMMEs supported by the City, which will see them grow and create jobs. Furthermore, the City will facilitate work opportunities for 17,504 EPWP workers.
Housing of course remains a challenge, as the City sits with a backlog of approximately 480,000 units.
In this financial year, we will build 2,500 low-rent and rent-to-buy units in mixed-income developments and 895 social housing units. 10 informal settlements will see the delivery of permanent infrastructure through the Upgrade of Informal Settlements Programme.
This is in addition to issuing 3,000 titles deed; giving access to housing vouchers for qualifying residents who choose to self-build and benefit their local economy; building 1,876 site-and-service stands, a programme that has been given a boost of R1,7-billion over the next three-years, this is in addition to the R1,9-billion operating budget for the Department of Human Settlements (previously Housing), which will go towards adequate human settlement projects.
Access to information and resources is vital to the survival of the City and its residents, therefore R35.1-million has been allocated for free Wi-Fi infrastructure at the City’s libraries.
Unfortunately, these interventions come at a cost to residents, but our job as the Multi-Party Government is to ensure that our residents get value for money. From 1 July 2022, the following tariff increases take effect:
• Property rates increase of 4.85%;
• Electricity increase of 7.47%, which is a significant reduction of the increase in the previous financial year of 14.59%. This increase is determined by NERSA and we currently have no option but to pass it through to our customers.
• Water increase of 9.75%. This increase is also a pass-through cost from Rand Water.
• Sanitation increase of 9.75%; and
• Refuse increases of 5%.
We have also taken note of, in the main, schools which have been adversely affected by changes in categorisation due to amendments made to the Municipal Property Rates Act.
In this regard, the City has created an application form to be completed by educational institutions that would want to apply for a rebate. The rebate application form captures all requirements to qualify for the rebate.
Affected parties can access the application form through the City's website www.joburg.org.za. Alternatively, it can be requested from email: ratescomments@joburg.org.za. The application form can be requested or collected from all Walk-in Centres in the regions.
Lastly, I will be embarking on an official work visit to Cairo and Paris over the next week, where I will be meeting with government and private sector leaders to discuss issues, including partnerships and raising capital, for energy security and climate change mitigation.
During my official travels, along with the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Cllr Michael Sun, the MMC for Community Development, Cllr Ronald Harris, will be the Acting Executive Mayor.
The residents of Joburg can expect to see and feel marked differences in service delivery overtime, and we expect to be held accountable for the commitments we make.
The repair and rebuild of Joburg, is truly underway.
ENDS…
For media queries, please contact:
Mabine Seabe
Director: Mayoral Communication
Private Office of the Executive Mayor
084 677 7851
04/07/2022
