Repositioning for growth

CITY OF TSHWANE

Repositioning for GROWTH

In office since 30 October 2020, Executive Mayor Randall Williams of the City of Tshwane is focused on executing quality service delivery as he leads the roll-out of the metro’s 10-point Plan.

The City of Tshwane’s approved operating and capital expenditure budgets for the 2021/22 financial year amount to around R39 billion and R4 billion, respectively. In compiling its budgets, the City had to adjust spending levels downwards after taking into consideration projected declines in revenue collection. However, measures are in place to correct this.

“We found a massive budget deficit of over R4 billion as a result of declining collection rates in the city. Collection levels had dropped to as low as 75% in some months when the administrators were in office. Recently, we managed to make significant progress in this regard and reported a 90% collection level in March 2021,” says Williams. He adds that measures include presenting the business case for the implementation of prepaid electricity meters across Tshwane to help to stabilise billing and provide sustained revenue.

Tshwane’s 10-point Plan

The City’s 10-point Plan forms the framework for improved turnarounds in service and infrastructure delivery and is focused on the following areas: 1. Prioritising the electrical grid and water infrastructure 2. Implementing a robust Covid-19 management strategy 3. Creating a reliable waste and refuse removal service 4. Providing stringent financial management and oversight 5. Enhancing city safety and emergency services

KEY OPERATING PROGRAMMES FOR THE 2021/22 FINANCIAL YEAR:

- Expanded Public Works Programme initiatives: R70.1 million - Food bank: R4.6 million - Local economic development and SMME initiatives: R11.4 million - Household refuse removal: R616.5 million - Illegal dumping: R94.4 million - Drug and substance abuse: R35.5 million - Formalisation of informal settlements: R72.6 million - Repairs and maintenance of infrastructure and community facilities:

R663.9 million - A Re Yeng operations: R20.3 million - Electricity reticulation, power stations, connections and disconnections:

R123.9 million - Water purification works: R84.1 million - Water tankers (informal settlements): R27.1 million

6. Promoting employment and economic growth in the city 7. Supporting the vulnerable and providing social relief 8. Fast-tracking development by cutting red tape 9. Applying expansive financial cost-cutting across City processes 10. Maintaining and expanding road infrastructure. Examples of successful interventions to date include the repair of more than 13 000 potholes, and over 82 000 streetlights. In turn, Tshwane water and sewerage teams have focused on maintenance initiatives that include the unblocking of more than 11 000 sewers, with over 20 000 water leaks repaired to date.

“If we fix electrical infrastructure, we reduce financial losses. The same is true for water infrastructure, as the revenue lost as a result of water leaks is significant,” Williams explains.

Strategic priorities and highlights

One of the city’s largest infrastructure projects is the ongoing revamp of the Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW). This is the largest facility of its kind in Tshwane and purifies around 45% of the city’s wastewater. It remains operational during its multifaceted upgrade.

Phase II is due to start in the 2021/22 financial year and will provide an additional 80 megalitres of treatment capacity per day to facilitate new developments in its catchment area for the next 20 to 30 years.

Meanwhile, Tshwane’s Baviaanspoort WWTW project is at an advanced stage of construction and on track for completion. This R41 million project will restore the additional treatment capacity needed for the plant to ensure that the treated effluent released into the Pienaars River complies with national standards. This will stop further pollution of the Pienaars River and the Roodeplaat Dam downstream.