Council approves the City’s R55.9-billion Budget

26 May 2017

 

The City of Johannesburg’s proposed 2017-2018 Budget, delivered by Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance Cllr Rabelani Dagada earlier in the week, was approved during a council meeting on Thursday May 25.

 

This was despite reservations expressed by the African National Congress (ANC) and the African Independent Congress (AIC).

During the debate, MMC for Development Planning Cllr Funzela Ngobeni described the R55.9-billion Budget “as a good Budget, but not a perfect one”.

He said since the Democratic Alliance-led coalition administration came into office in August last year, the number of unemployed people had dropped by 17 000. This, he said, proved that the new administration was committed to job creation and economic growth.

“We are encouraged by the fact that the City will spend R228-million in the 2017-2018 financial year on turning Johannesburg into the driver of South Africa’s future economic growth.

“As reflected by the MMC for Finance, Cllr Dagada, economic development is central to the recognition and transformation of the economically forgotten people of Johannesburg. The Economic Development Department will use its budget allocation to give effect to our economic pillar of growing the economy of the City by 5% by firstly refocusing our approach to investment promotion.

“We will interact with companies and cities that invest in the City and understand better the environment they require for their specific sectors and industries so we can attract more multinational corporations and add to the number already located in the City,” he said.

Cllr Ngobeni, however, noted with concern the sharp reduction in the super-structure grant allocated to the City by the Gauteng Provincial Government – from R411-million in 2015-2016 to R345-million in 2016-2017, and down to R145-million in the next financial year.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Chief Whip Cllr Musa Novela said his party welcomed the Budget as it reflected problems faced by the poor. He, however, urged the City to consider the wishes of the poor, calling for the provision of free water to them.

He said the EFF welcomed the Budget as it spoke to his party’s election manifesto.

ANC caucus leader and former Executive Mayor Cllr Parks Tau congratulated MMC Dagada on presenting a maiden Budget aimed addressing the plight of the poor. He, however, accused Executive Mayor Herman Mashaba of being bent on replacing initiatives that his administration had put in place, including the Jozi@Work programme.

“All these programmes were geared to improve the economy and empower our youth. All our inputs in the IDP (Integrated Development Plan) meetings were never taken into consideration and yet the ANC is the biggest party in Johannesburg. The Mayor has chosen to take a partisan approach to suit his party and its coalition agenda,” Cllr Tau said.