Rustenburg - Residents of Rustenburg must pay for services, mayor Mpho Khunou said on Tuesday.
“For Rustenburg local municipality to continue improving the quality of services provided to its citizens it needs to generate the required revenue. In these tough economic times strong revenue management is fundamental to financial sustainability of every municipality. We urge every citizen to pay for the services,” Khunoui said, tabling the 2015/ 2017 Medium Term Income and Expenditure Framework before the council.
The municipality has set aside R70 million to assist poor households or households that face circumstances that limit their ability to pay for services.
To receive these services, household are required to register in line with the municipality’s indigent policy,” Khunou said.
He said the municipality implemented the new valuation roll in 2014/15 financial year and its impact on consumers were considered when tariffs for property rates were calculated.
The municipality increased residential property rates by three percent. Water increased by six to ten percent, electricity increased by 12,2 percent, sewerage increased by four to ten percent and refuse increased by 5.57 percent.
Khonou presented a total spending budgeted of R3,5 billion for 2015/16 and R4.1 billion and R4.4 billion on the two outer years in the operating budget.
Capital budget spending was at R1 billion for 2015/16 financial year, anc R528 million and R462 million in the two remaining years of the budget.
ANA