The City of Joburg has increased its budget to R80.9 billion for 2023/24 financial year. This was announced on Tuesday by Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Finance Dada Morero when he was delivering his first budget speech at the Council.
Morero said the City was transformed with a budget of less than R50 billion in 2000 and today the budget for 2023/24 is approximately R80.9 billion, catering for about 6 million people.
“10 years later from iGoli 2000, the vision of being ‘A world-class African City’ was born. We transformed the City with less than R50 billion. Today, we have to make tough decisions because the people of Johannesburg are trusting us with a budget that is informed by their needs.
“Our Operational Expenditure sits at R73.3 billion. Meanwhile, our Capital Expenditure stands at R7.6 billion for 2023/24 with a three-year capital budget of R24.4 billion.
“Alone we will not solve all of societal challenges. We call upon the private sector especially our investors community to help us to leverage this budget so that we can make every cent count and do more,” he said.
Morero allocated the bulk of the budget, R1.2 billion, to The Human Settlements Department.
“The Human Settlements Department has been allocated an operational expenditure budget of R1.2 billion, and a multi-year capital budget of R5.5 billion over the medium-term.
“Key projects funded over the medium term in Human Settlements include R2.5 billion over the medium-term towards mega housing developments inclusive of R2 billion towards Lufhereng, R140 million towards South hills and R155 million for Fleurhof, Southern Farms, R41 million Cosmo City (Malibongwe Ridge) R71 million.
“R71 million for Transitional housing to assist in providing alternative housing while the City deals with hijacked and bad buildings.”
Morero said there were 181 informal settlements across the municipality with an estimated 180 000 households and a combined population exceeding 500 000 as a result R1.6 billion was set aside for the upgrade of these places.
“The department has R302 million for the acquisition of property to secure land for various housing developments. R20 million toward providing serviced stands as part of the formalisation of informal settlements programme.
Morero said City Power will be given a R23.7 billion operational budget for streetlight repairs and installations, responsiveness to service failures and preventative maintenance, and securing infrastructure from vandalism and theft.
“City Power is allocated a three-year capital budget of R4.3 billion, which is aimed at various infrastructure projects. While Joburg Water is set to receive R15.6 billion.
“The entity is further allocated a R3.1 billion multi-year capital budget that is R2.6 billion and R514 million for water and sewer, respectively. The allocated budget will focus on programmes geared towards water and sewer pipe replacement, upgrades and storage infrastructure, the Wastewater Treatment Works Program, as well as repairs and maintenance. Sewer upgrades will be done in many areas including Orange Farm, Lanseria, Soweto, Diepsloot, Ennerdale and Cosmo City.”
