Tsheko Musolwa,The Mayor of Maruleng Local Municipality delivered a pro-poor budget.
The Mayor of Maruleng Local Municipality, Tsheko Musolwa, hardly cuts the figure of a revolutionary.
He is neither an intimidating politician nor a militant Black Consciousness socio-political commentator. He is a community activist determined to deliver services to the constituency.
Musolwa endeared himself to the people of Maruleng when he recently delivered a pro-poor Integrated Development and Budget for the 2024/25 in the council chambers.
The budget for the municipality, as Musolwa outlined, is aimed at addressing challenges facing the community of Maruleng. “This budget came through a collective effort by all stakeholders through vigorous public participation.
The total expenditure budget for 2024/25 amounts to R536.3 million. This total budget comprises of operational expenditure budget of R349.6 million and capital budget of R186.7 million”.
The 2024/25 total projected revenue is estimated at R538.8 million. The amount includes own generated revenue which totals to R314.7 million for all municipal service charges and the total transfers and subsidies amounts to R224.1 million as per Division Of Revenue Act.
The budgeted allocation for employee related costs and remunerations for councilors for 2024/25 financial year amounts to R122.2 million which equals to 38 % of the total operating expenditure.
The IDP and Budget speech was delivered in line with the provisions of Section 24 of The Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA).
Musolwa said it is envisaged that the proposed tariffs will allow the municipality to generate revenue to sustain the municipal operations. The 2024/25 tariffs have been reviewed in line with the affordability level of our community.
Addressing the council, he said “This budget marks yet another milestone in our democratic elected government. Let us celebrate all our achievements as the people of Maruleng that is the availability of WIFI in our communities, accessible roads, water provisioning and other notable achievements that we have seen. There are various identified catalytic projects that Maruleng Municipality is working on to improve the lives of the residents.”
Musolwa announced that engagements are underway with the South African National Defence Force, mentioning the air force base in Hoedspruit to ensure that the project receives support.
He said “In 2024/2025 we should record remarkable progress on this project.”
He went on to say “We are pleased to report that on the 8th of May 2024, we undertook sod turning ceremony for the R200 Million The Oaks Shopping Centre by Sampada Investments. If this project is completed in 12 months it will alleviate long travelling distances by our residents to far flung areas such as Tzaneen and Acornhoek.”
Regarding the renewable energy solar plant, Musolwa said “We are pleased to report that on May 7, Sekororo Tribal Authority gave a letter of permission to Maruleng municipality to commence with the pre-feasibility study for the solar plant. It is expected that in 12 months’ time the report back will be available from the pre-feasibility study regarding the physical and financial viability of the project.”
In communities where primary healthcare is in dire need, Musolwa announced the construction of the Hoedspruit Private Hospital.
He said “Construction is underway and we are very hopeful that it will be completed soon. This will alleviate the plight of the people of Maruleng who are always travelling to other areas to seek medical care. The municipality is working with the community of Scotia to ensure that we facilitate the issue of title deeds in the development. We hope that the new CPA is installed to work with the municipality so that work on this project including road project can continue. The Municipality has leased a building on the R36 in The Oaks for Agricultural Market to support all farmers that are producing within Maruleng Municipality. As the municipality, we are committed to build strategic road that connect our communities, for this financial year.
Musolwa said the accounting officer of the municipality must submit the approved annual budget to the National Treasury and the relevant provincial treasury.
He noted that “The main risks to the economic outlook are slowdown in economic growth, the rising unemployment and income losses that entrenched existing inequalities and the GDP is only expected to recover to pre-pandemic levels in late 2024.
The national government is working towards dealing with the electricity challenges as electricity supply constraints are detrimental to economic growth.”
To maximise the value of spending, Musolwa said “As Maruleng Municipality, we need to contain costs, more especially consumption related spending, exercise prudent and compliant financial management and eradicate wasteful treatment of municipal funds and resources. Thus, marching towards our goal of attaining a clean audit. “We need to continue with the implementation of revenue enhancement strategy and other financial related policies as approved by council. This will ensure that we continue maintaining funded budget currently and the outer years ahead.”