uMnambithi (Ladysmith) based Alfred Duma Municipality is gearing up to bring service delivery to the forefront, following the approval of its Mid-Term Budget for the 2024/2025 financial year.
When looking at the year ahead, the Alfred Duma Municipal Mayor, Cllr Sibi, explained in the Mayoral Budget speech that the capital budget for the 2024/2025 financial year is budgeted at R148.5 million, of which R92.4 million will be funded from grants and R56.1 million will be funded from the Council’s own contribution.
The grant funding of R92.4 million includes an allocation of R78.5 million for the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) and R10.8 million for the Sports Infrastructure Grant (SIG). Additionally, a total of R3.3 million has been allocated from other grants (Library, Museum, Infrastructure Skills Development Grant, Finance Management Grant, Accreditation Subsidy, and Neighbourhood Development Grant) for capital requirements.
The capital budget, as explained in the Mayoral Budget Speech, focuses mainly on integral infrastructure projects such as roads, high mast lights, and low water crossings.
With this in mind, Cllr Sibisi highlighted in his budget speech for the 2024/2025 medium-term framework that the Council is reminded that the Municipality’s financial resources are under severe strain due to the declining economy.
“Planning by departments of the municipality is essential to ensure that the allocated budget lasts for the entire 2024/2025 financial year. We, therefore, have to ensure that quality services are delivered within the budget that has been allocated and that costs are incurred efficiently to be able to do more with less,” noted Cllr Sibisi in his mayoral budget speech.
Furthermore, the Alfred Duma Municipality’s Capital Budget Programmes have been separated into nine clusters, with some of the identified priority projects including the following:
- Construction of the Ladysmith Animal Pound in Ward 11 – Phase 2: R2.5 million
- Construction of Roosboom Gravel Road in Ward 11: R4 million
- Construction of Emcitsheni Community Hall in Ward 7: R3 million
- Upgrade of the swimming pool in Ward 8 – Phase 2: R1.3 million
- Construction of the Alfred Duma Fitness Centre – Phase 5B – funded via the SIG and MIG with a combined value of the grants coming to R20.8 million.
- Construction of the Dalinkosi Pedestrian Bridge in Ward 30: R5 million.
- Neighbourhood Development Partnership Grant: R2 million
- Fleet – Plant and Machinery: R25 million.
- Electricity Strengthening: R993,000.
While several other projects will be included in the capital budget, such as the construction of high mast lights in various wards, the Alfred Duma Municipality stated that it is determined to ensure that service delivery is bolstered in the upcoming financial year.
Other than the above-mentioned projects, it was also noted that electricity infrastructure had been allocated R34 million for electricity repairs, including street lighting, mains, substations, and repairs to the electricity fleet. A further R7 million has also been allocated in the capital budget for electricity infrastructure upgrades. Council funding, amounting to R25 million, will also be utilised to procure a new fleet with a focus on yellow plant.
Additionally, R949,000 has been allocated for emergency relief to assist the needy within the municipality’s borders during times of natural disasters. The Municipality’s mid-term budget noted that R4.5 million has also been allocated for Klipriver maintenance.
Moreover, the Alfred Duma Municipality has also allocated R29 million for the maintenance of roads, while a further R13 million has been earmarked for the maintenance of stormwater drains, which includes labour charges.
With the Alfred Duma Municipality gearing up to inject millions into the uMnambithi (Ladysmith) community, what are your thoughts on the above? Share your views in the comment section below
Comments 6
There is little to nothing to show specific upgrades for Jantha and Clover Su stations even though promises were made on National TELEVISION. We as the LCA have requested this to reflect in the new budget but was told that there is 7 Million allocated for assessments, whether it is for Jantha and Clover only GOD Almighty knows. Requested them to show the Financials the actual Income and Expenditure statements for the 2023 /2024 as yet to be made public. Who knows what in for the residents that were impacted by both these substations how will the municipality ensure we don’t experience another 7 day outage like so many times in the past.
In terms of the Klipriver ADLM was only able to achieve 7% of their disilting target. What does this mean for the CBD and residents in those wards. A bus depot property in Lyell Street has been eroded away by the turbulence created in the river because the meander right at the back of this depot has not been desilted. What will the municipality put in place that their targets are achieved before the rainy seasons hits us. As the LCA we tabled thos to the MM in our reasons for objecting to the high tariff increases which are way above CPI.
Alfred Duma muncipality does not fox anything from street lights, pot holes, repainting of drop signs but has money for everything else 8 paying Wards are paying for 29 non paying Wards and our Wards are in a shocking condition
Good day SIR/ MADAM
R148.5 MILLION RANDS IS A LOT OF CASH THAT CAN STRETCH FAR AND WIDE PROVIDED IT IS USED UP PROPERLY. I AS A RATE PAYING CITIZEN OF LADYSMITH HAVE NOTICED IN THE PAST 30 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY EVERYTHING WAS PROMISED BUT NOTHING WAS DONE .
HIRING OF INCOMPETENT CONTRACTORS WITH STAFF THAT HAS A 35% PASS RATE (MEANING STILL ILLITERATE) NOTHING GETS DONE MIND YOU ONLY THEIR BANK ACCOUNT GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER .
YES YOU AND I AS RATE PAYERS WE PAY AND COMPLAIN ALL OUR LIVES BUT THE PEOPLE OF ALFRED DUMA MUNICIPALITY AND UTHUKELA DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY HEARS AND SEES 👀 NOTHING AND NOTHING BOTHERS THEM PERIOD !!!
FINALLY WE PRAY 🙏 THAT THIS TIME AROUND UMNABITHI (LADYSMITH) GETS FIXED UP AND PUT BACK ON THE MAP .
THANK YOU
AHMED
As a rate payer in ADLM, it is sad to see the state of cleanliness in the town. The responsible departments have no accountability for the actions, nothing is done to rectify or remedy the situation. We have residents from Wards that don’t contribute to rates, that dump litter and garbage in paying residential areas. Municipality does nothing to fix or collect. Infrastructure is deteriorating at a rate faster than fixing. They need to show audited financials so us rate payers can also hold them accountable for their spending.
There are to many promises and budgets passed and approved, and those projects and budgets are misused and councillors and those responsible aren’t held to account. Uthukela under administration is a clear example of this..misused and inflated projects but no delivery.
All we need is to have the basics of municipal services delivered from within the already allocated budget from paying rate payers. Those that don’t contribute to rates, need to be funded from grants, however Service delivery needs to remain in place, transparent and delivered.
Many thanks
This budget does not address the maintenance and repairs of the municipality infrastructure in the 8 wards that are paying for services. This budget was passed by the municipality even though the LCA got 4000 signatures of ratepayers and also raised a objection to it. The Mayor rightly acknowledges that the economy is bad but they still want to raise tariffs and milk the residents further.