Richmond Local Municipality

MUNICIPAL NEWS

Richmond Local Municipality

Grounded in social cohesion

The Mayor of Richmond Local Municipality, Cllr Siminenkosi Samora Ndlovu, who has spent less time in the office and more time on the ground attending to service delivery issues said, “there can never be enough consultation with the community in Local Government because this is the coalface of governance, therefore, our decision to continuously engage our people remains the primary focus of this administration”.

On Tuesday 18th of May 2021, Mayor, Cllr Siminenkosi Samora Ndlovu met with ward committee members as a build up to the IDP/Budget in an attempt to accelerate service delivery of the IDP/Budget Vote scheduled in the coming weeks. The meeting with the ward committee members afforded the Municipality an opportunity to give feedback regarding budget and expenditure while getting much needed input from communities about their expectations and experiences in the work that they do.

Ward committees were offered an opportunity to ask questions and raise issues they deemed as priority to them which will assist the Municipality in planning for the 2021/2022 financial year Budget. All the inputs submitted will form part of the city’s Integrated Development Plan.

The Municipality has communicated with a number of local radio stations as platforms to present the IDP/Budget thus ensuring that the community is informed and able to engage – this is in line with the threat of the third COVID-19 wave which makes it difficult to hold ward meetings.

Let’s all stay safe and remember to take vaccinations seriously. Richmond Municipal Council cares.

“there can never be enough consultation with the community in Local Government because this is the coalface of governance”

2022 Draft Budget Consultation

Richmond Municipality

OPERATIONAL BUDGET 1. Revenue budget: • R114 million as income to be generated in the 2021/22 budget year. The budgeted income is made up of the following items:

• Property Rates: R19,5 million • Services Charges for refuse removal: R590 thousand • Rental of facilities: R1 million • Interest Income from cash invested: R2.4 million • Collection Charges on outstanding property rates: R3,7 million • Licenses and permits: R1,6 million

Grants from government department: R6,9 million • Other income from operations:

R3,9 million

2. Expenditure Budget: R143 million as expenditure in the 2021/22 financial year. The budgeted expenditure is made up of the following items:

• Employee related costs: R60 million • Remuneration of councillors: R6,2 million • Debt impairment - due to poor collection of rates: R3 million • Depreciation & asset impairment:

R20,1 million • Finance charges or interest expense: R199 thousand • Contracted services: R28,4 million • Other operation expenses: R17,4 million The 2021/22 expenditure budget was increased by 4%. This was done taking into account the projected inflation percentage increase for the 2022 financial year.

CAPITAL PROJECTS 3. Electrification Projects: The Department of Energy has approved and allocated an amount of R10.9 million for the 2021/22 financial year. The R10,9 million allocation will be used to electrify the following areas:

• 300 x Shayamoya Mkhobeni

Connections: R5,4 million • 190 x Smozomeni Connections :

R3.4 million • 300 x Kosithole/Kosotobe

Connections: R2.1 million

4. Infrastructure Projects: 4.1 Grant Funded R18,4 million has been allocated for the 2021/22 financial year in respect of MIG. The MIG Grant is used by the municipality to implement capital projects such as: Road Infrastructure, Community Halls and Sport Facilities

• Ezindongeni Main Road and Bus

Shelters: R4 million • Ezulwini Bridge: R7,4 million • Resurfacing on Internal Roads: R4,9 million • Construction of sport field ward 7:

R1 million • Construction of Sheti Box Culvert:

R1 million

4.2 Internally Funded: The following capital projects will be implemented and funded by own funds/resources:

• Refurbishment of Richmond

Memorial Hall: R1,5 million • Acquisition of Tractor: R500 thousand • Installation of Town Cameras: R750 thousand • Waste Removal Truck: R1,5 million • Landfill site maintenance: R2,5 million

5. Municipal Programmes: • Local Economic Development

Strategy: R150 thousand • Tourism Strategy: R150 thousand • Training of youth: R200 thousand • Gender program: R100 thousand • Disaster Management: R300 thousand • Art and Culture: R100 thousand • LED programs: R300 thousand

6. Public Participation Budget:

• Ward Committee: R100 thousand • MPAC Oversight: R30 thousand • Public meetings, awareness campaigns and events: R150 thousand • Evaluation meeting: R200 thousand • Uniform: R80 thousand