The adjustment budget of the ANC/EFF government in the Ekurhuleni Metro Council, which was recently tabled in the Council, was clearly focused on canvassing for votes for the 2024 elections rather than on improving service delivery.
The adjustments made to some departmental budgets will not facilitate basic service delivery to the loyal residents who faithfully pay their municipal bills.
The budget does not even make sufficient provision for funding maintenance and repairs to municipal infrastructure.
Clearly, the ANC/EFF government’s adjustments to the Metro’s budget will not serve all residents.
Therefore, the FF Plus’s cannot support the adjustment budget. The party demands that basic service delivery be restored, and that maintenance and repairs are done properly.
Ekurhuleni residents are very frustrated by the poor service delivery of the ANC/EFF metro government. Disorder is at the order of the day.
For instance, thieves frequently saw down streetlights at night, creating safety risks for residents in the area.
Illegal power connections go unpunished and the Municipality, consequently, suffers a loss in revenue. Ultimately, it is loyal taxpayers who pay for these losses, while the ANC/EFF government fails to prioritise the problem.
Potholes remain a serious problem while repairs are becoming more and more backlogged.
The Municipality still has not appointed service providers to cut the grass and its internal teams are unable to properly service the vast area.
Finally, it is very alarming that the Metro shows a R3 billion deficit in energy revenue in the middle of the financial year.
The FF Plus doubts that it will be possible to make up this deficit in the months to come. It will ultimately result in a budget shortfall in the future.
The FF Plus condemns this adjustment budget, which fails to address basic service delivery for all Metro residents, but instead focuses on expenditure which will rack up votes for the ANC and EFF for the upcoming elections.
This election-focused budget is, however, too little too late for both the ANC and EFF, which will see their support dwindle in the elections.
On the other hand, parties such as the FF Plus that fight for better service delivery and balanced budgets will see their support grow in Gauteng because the FF Plus puts the people first.
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