The Msunduzi Municipality says it is committed to ensuring that its budget assists and protects vulnerable communities. During a recent discussion on its draft budget, the municipality reiterated its commitment to indigent support programmes and targeted subsidies aimed at buffering the impact of rising costs on low-income communities.
This commitment was made during a meeting recently with the city’s councillors and other stakeholders as part of the municipality's Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and draft budget discussions. The city recently tabled a budget with proposed tariffs that are set to take effect in July. In a statement, the city assured residents that it would not leave vulnerable communities stranded.
A statement issued by the city on the discussions said: “Delegates discussed the affordability and sustainability of tariffs, particularly in key service delivery areas such as water, electricity, waste management, and sanitation.
"The strategic planning platform facilitated open dialogue to ensure that tariffs are cost-reflective, economically sound, and capable of supporting the municipality’s service delivery agenda over the next three years.
“Crucially, the social impact of tariff adjustments was also emphasised, with a strong focus on protecting vulnerable households,” said the statement.
During the meeting, Mayor Mzimkhulu Thebolla called on councillors in the city to set aside their political ambitions and work together to address the service delivery challenges facing the city.
“Today, I urge everyone to put aside their political ambitions so that we can work together. There are many things that need to be done, and service delivery must be prioritised.
"We can only achieve this if we collaborate effectively. We need to inspire one another by increasing our work ethics and attitudes and those of those around us, setting examples while enforcing compliance from our subordinates,” he said.