DURBAN - THE Ndwedwe Local Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, together with the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department (Cogta), unveiled a new municipal fleet, construction equipment and offices worth R34 million.
The municipality sourced funds from within it to replace assets and increase their number, without having to take a loan.
Ndwedwe municipal manager Musawenkosi Hadebe said they came up with a strategy to ensure that they improved service delivery standards.
This was achieved by sticking to a budget, which managed to generate investments.
The new assets included the “technical” municipal offices valued at R14 million; a new municipality fleet consisting of a 23-seater bus and 10 municipal cars valued at approximately R6.8m; and a water tanker, graders and an excavator valued at R10.4m.
Other new assets included a tractor loader backhoe to the value of R978 209 57; a vehicle modified for the fire department valued at R1 241 077,33; and a back-up car for the mayor, deputy mayor and speaker which cost R652 731 15.
Thando Tubane, Cogta’s head of department, said council members were always complaining about a shortage of funds to purchase items.
Mayor Vincent Chili said since 2016, they were given a directive by the community stating that only 46% of people had access to electricity, and now 98% of the members of the community had access to electricity.
“The community made it very clear that they wanted electricity. We are happy that we have given almost all community members access to electricity.
“We are going to move on to the next target, fulling the promise of tarred roads,” said Chili.
Daily News