Last week the majority of political parties in the Drakenstein Council adopted and approved the 2023-’24 annual budget.
The ANC decided to support the budget after considering the positives and negatives of the annual budget. The party raised a number of concerns and is hopeful these concerns will be addressed over the next financial year.
This budget is the highest thus far and is boosted by huge grants from the national and provincial governments.
These grants are to be used for service delivery to the poorest of the poor, such as the 14 597 indigent households who will benefit from it, the upgrading of the 43 informal settlements and the upgrading of the water and wastewater systems in the previously disadvantaged areas.
The ANC caucus will use its oversight duties in the portfolio committees and in council to ensure the budget is spent correctly and speedily to improve the living conditions of the residents of Drakenstein.
The party also raised the concern of the anticipated massive surplus (is it a profit?) for the financial year and would rather use the surplus to subsidise the increases in the rates. The proposed use of the surplus for the redemption of the external loans is also a mistake, and the DA sends out the wrong message that the poorest of the poor must pay for the external loans and mistakes of the past. The poor cannot be used to subsidise the rich.
The ANC welcomed the planned building of 265 houses in this financial year, but it is obviously not enough to make any meaningful dent in the long waiting list of more than 20 000 applicants.
The DA must be held accountable for returning grants to the national and provincial governments intended to provide housing infrastructure and improving informal settlements.
The ANC also raised a concern over the long delay in the completion of the De Kraal Sports Field. Funds have now been allocated to bring this facility nearer to completion.
The question remains when the field will be completed and made available to sports clubs.
We welcome the long-awaited funds allocated to upgrade and provide soup kitchens in all the different wards. This will go a long way to alleviating poverty in Drakenstein.
The ANC caucus will, during this financial year, ensure we play a more meaningful role in ensuring the spending of the approved budget.
