By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The Greater Taung Municipality delivered its much-anticipated budget speech on Wednesday by its Executive Mayor, cllr Kaone Lobelo.

Even though the budget speech left some with sour taste in their mouths, most of the opposition parties and public at large applaud it.

Lobelo said even though Taung is faced with a mammoth task to overcome, it will be amiss not to mention the present achievements and challenges overcame during the past financial year.

According to Statistic South Africa Community Survey, unemployment is one of the biggest challenges South Africa is facing with 23% rate. Lobelo said the municipality is slightly more than 90% of the municipality is rural with a high indigent rate.

“The municipality is graded at 3 in terms of the determination of upper limits for Councilors allowances and salaries. Agriculture remains the biggest source of livelihood in the area” Lobelo outlines.

Mayor Lobelo also took time to thank all South Africans who took time to go and cast their votes on 07 May 2014 to let their voices heard. However he said the stable democracies are not only measured by elections, but are also measured by the opportunities they create for sustainable livelihoods for citizens.

“People all over South Africa and the Greater Taung Local Municipality have a good twenty year story to tell about the democracy that we celebrate this year. The Greater Taung we live in today is better than yesterday” he said.

According to Lobelo, the Greater Taung is constantly changing and the living conditions of its people are improving. He also said the government has adopted the National Development Plan as the guiding tool for accelerated service delivery to the people of its country until 2030.

“In developing this budget, we have taken into account the inputs of our people during the IDP/Budget roadshows we held across the municipality in April 2014. We want to thank the people of our municipality for their overwhelming turnout at various venues where these important meetings were held” Lobelo said.

The budget of R218 million was bestowed to Greater Taung Municipality on Wednesday and the money was detailed according to priorities need to be upgraded by municipality.

Human Settlement

According to municipality, more than 2030 housing units have been delivered across the municipality between 2011 and 2013. The completion of the remaining 104 units in Extension 6 to the value of R11 million will start during 2014/2015.

“Another 350 residents will benefit from the Ba Phuduhucwana Rural Housing project also referred to as Mankuroane Gardens valued at R39 million, 931 units valued at R102 million will also be completed across the municipality during 2014/2015” said Lobelo.

Another project that will benefit the residents of Boipelo Township in Reivilo is valued at R22 million with 200 units to be built.

Community Services

“We have allocated R500 000 to refurbish sports facilities including the Taung Pudumoe and Manthe Sports Grounds. We will also planning to blade school sport grounds during 2014/2015” he said.

R250 000 was allocated on fencing local cemeteries and R350 000 will go Reivilo Park.

Boipelo Library in Reivilo will also get R620 000 for refurbishment and Pudumoe library will opened its doors soon after it was built at the value of R7 million.

Good Governance

The principles of Batho Pele are inculcated in all those who work for the municipality. “We have evaluated our organizational structure and proposed new positions to ensure that it helps us meet our set objectives. Atleast nine positions were identified as critical. We will also continue to fight corruption and improve our working relations with the Auditor General so that we can all work towards a clean audit” he said.

Mayor Kaone Lobelo also touched many items like;

Corporate and Educational Support
Disaster and Emergency
Community Safety
Local Economic Development
Public Participation
Community Based Planning
Communications and Customer Care
Integrated Sustainable Development
Neighborhood Development Program
Municipal Infrastructure Grant
Expanded Public Works Programme
Internal Audit, Audit Committee and Risk Management
Finance

Most of opposition parties applaud the budget and said they are positive the municipality could deliver.

“We would like to applaud the municipality for its budget and we wish all what has been said could be implemented and delivered ” DA councillor A.P Scholtz said.

Also APC leader Martha Hermanus said the municipality must fight corruption as it derails service delivery.

Thapelo Galeboe said the budget does not includes the youth development and the youth are the backbone of the economy. “The youth must be included in many structures so that we can be represented. We are now facing economic struggle and we need more projects where the youth can be equipped with skills. The socio-economic revival is key.”

Kgosi Nyoko Motlhabane sent a vote of thanks and lauds the municipality. He also urged the municipality to come up with a plan to develop the community of Taung especially the youth.-TDN
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