The Acting Executive Mayor, Councillor Mike Muir tabled a watershed budget amounting to R2,5 billion for the 2008/09 financial year. The budget marks an increase of R600millon from the 2007/08 financial year. The good news budget saw the Executive Mayor signaling important policy shift from the current policy trajectory to the one of cooperation, speeding up of service delivery and increased investment into Emfuleni.

Accordingly, the Mayor spoke of Emfuleni as a giant located on the N1 and R59 development corridors that needed to be awoken. “Our people should be the

principal recipients of the economic spin-offs presented by the untapped potential of the area. The river front development is a small step in a huge leap forward”, he said.

News that would make property development investors and business generally happy is the announcement that the moratorium on land usage will be revisited to unlock investments in strategic areas. Essentially, this would be done further to ensure that the giant may awake.

Staff and Members of the council listening attentively during the budget speech

District wide projects and cooperation with Sedibeng
The Acting Executive Mayor could not hide his displeasure concerning problematic relations of Emfuleni and Sedibeng. He said as partners in service delivery and in the interest of the community, Emfuleni wants cooperation not competition with the district municipality. “Emfuleni can no longer operate as an island Municipality. I invite the Council, officials, the community, business fraternity, and our friends the media …… to join hands with the common vision to build an Emfuleni and South Africa which future generations will hold in high esteem”, he said.

To further consolidate these relations the Executive Mayor announced flagship projects that Emfuleni is implementing jointly with Sedibeng District Municipality which include:

• Transformation of the Sharpeville Dam through development that will change the face of Sharpeville. A mega complex which boasts recreational facilities and restaurants will be established.
• The R860 million Regional Sewer Scheme which is in the process of being implemented including an initial R50 million capital injection.
• Cooperation with the Midvaal Local Municipality in relation to a road link for the region resulting from a major investment by Heineken (beer manufacturing plant).

Good news for communities in Emfuleni is an announcement of below inflation increases in tariffs, excluding electricity which falls outside the mandate of Council. All tariff increases are pegged at around the 7% mark. Another important highlight of the budget includes R51,6 million allocation for ward based projects which will be used for among others to provide high mast lights, tarred roads, resealing existing roads, construction of storm water drainage and sport and recreation facilities. The ward based allocation is in addition to a capital budget of approximately R293million provided for in 2008/09 budget. Furthermore, 10 000 indigent households will benefit in the provision of basic services included in the social package of the Municipality. This will see the number of indigent database growing to a whopping 37 000 households.

The Acting Executive equally made a passionate plea to residents of Emfuleni especially those who able to pay for service but failed to do, to ensure that they pay for services.