Pretoria - The City of Tshwane is set to embark on a month-long public participation exercise to give residents the opportunity to comment on the draft budget for the 2022/23 financial year and the Integrated Development Plan (IDP).
The exercise is expected to start tomorrow after the council approved the draft budget and IDP last week.
The speaker’s office said public meetings – in-person and virtual – would be hosted throughout the seven regions.
Residents would be expected to comment on the service delivery needs in their wards and on the proposed tariff increases, which would come into effect on July 1.
“As a City, we will continue to improve the lived experience of our residents. Their feedback during this process will assist in shaping the final budget to be approved by council before the close of the current financial year,” the speaker’s office said.
Executive Mayor Randall Williams said the draft budget and IDP prioritised electricity grid, water infrastructure and core service delivery.
“Our draft capital budget has been put together to ensure that we adequately address many of the recurring infrastructure issues that the City faces. We have allocated 42%, approximately R1.2 billion, towards the prioritisation of the electrical grid and water infrastructure in Tshwane,” Williams said.
He said the budget would include the refurbishment of the Mooikloof, Wapadrand, Pyramid, Kentron and Rosslyn substations.
“Alongside this we aim to connect 4 700 new dwellings to the electricity grid. We intend to construct new reservoirs in Booysens and run water reticulation projects to vulnerable communities in Kopanong, Phomolong and Zithobeni, while facilitating 5 500 new water meter and 1 800 new sewer connections,” Williams said.
The City also intended to upgrade waste water plants in Sunderland Ridge, Klipgat, Ekangala and Rooiwal.
“Our second-biggest allocation of R690 million is towards the maintenance and expansion of road infrastructure and public transport.
"This funding will assist in rehabilitating our existing roads, building new roads and expanding the route of the Bus Rapid Transit system,” Williams said.
In addition, he said, the City would prioritise the construction of roads and stormwater drains in Mabopane Ext 1, Refilwe Manor Ext 9, Fort West Ext 5, Ga-Rankuwa, Olievenhoutbosch Ext 60, Soshanguve Ext 5, 12, 13 and 19, Winterveld and Zithobeni.
Pretoria News