Trevor Ncube
Finance MMC Geoffrey Makhubo kicked off his 2015 Johannesburg budget speech speaking directly about xenophobia: “Collectively we must ensure that what we saw in the recent attacks on foreign nationals must never happen again in this leading cosmopolitan city in Africa. We are all Africans … united in diversity.”
The theme of this year’s budget speech was “tomorrow is better than today”, and Makhubo dared anyone to challenge him on the fact that Johannesburg is far better off today than it was yesterday.
Africa’s economic powerhouse is the first city to broach the R50-billion mark for its yearly budget, as the whopping figure of R52.6-billion has been allocated for its maintenance and development. It is, as Makhubo pointed out, a city of “many firsts”.
He was at pains to emphasise that numerous projects that will soon be or are already implemented have been done in consultation with the communities that will benefit from them, based on a philosophy of “hand-up, rather than hand-out”. He said the city has, through its Integrated Development Plan (IDP), “heard the voices” of the people on the ground, and is now putting its considerable resources into the implementation phase to eradicate the legacy of the apartheid past and provide much-needed jobs for particularly, the youth.
“The community-based planning approach that we introduced in 2013 in Region E has now been rolled out to all regions. It has given us an opportunity to reach many communities and appreciate the diverse needs of our communities … we had conversations with thousands of residents through the 26 IDP community conversations and using social media.”
He said the city is working with nongovernmental organisations to ensure environmental and economic development. “In Region G, for example, we will be working with organisations such as Go Green, Clean Youth Organisation and Agents of Change women’s organisation in the areas of eradicating illegal dumping, park development – and we have allocated the necessary funds in this Budget to catalyse these partnerships.
“In one month’s time — on June 26 — our country will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Freedom Charter,” said Makhubo. “The charter clearly states that ‘the people shall govern’. This implies that all people should participate in the administration and governance of the country and the city.”
The MMC said that “the people spoke” at a number of IDP conversations over the past few weeks, and because of this, funds have been allocated to, for example, sports facilities in Riverlea, food gardens in Ward 79, road upgrades in wards 110 and 111, refurbishing of flats in Alexandra and bolstering of youth groups in Region C.
The MMC said the City has, in years past, done what it set out to do. “Financial sustainability is a key foundation to transform the City and it is our number one priority. We said we would spend R100-billion, on capital expenditure, over a 10-year period. We have held ourselves to this commitment and stuck to the targets set out in the long term Financial Development Plan.”
The City has consistently generated surpluses over the last three financial years, and used these surpluses to fund major developments. The city has maintained healthy cash balances despite a significant increase in capital expenditure, and has obtained unqualified audit opinions for two consecutive years. The city is, in other words, delivering on its promises, and has built a solid foundation of financial sustainability.
Johannesburg residents will, however, have to tighten their belts as there are a number of tariff hikes coming this year: property rates go up by 6%, electricity by 12.19%, water, sewerage and sanitation goes up 14% and waste removal 8%, although there are rebates for certain vulnerable Joburgers.
Despite this grim news, Makhubo was doubtless correct in stating that “today is better than yesterday” — certainly for those who inhabit the city’s ever-swelling townships.