By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Democratic Alliance-led City of Tshwane coalition passed its adjustment budget after ActionSA had initially threatened to vote against it in council on Monday.
Despite attempts by the DA who pleaded with ActionSA to reconsider its position to oppose the adjustment budget as it would mean that the City of Tshwane’s budget could go unfunded, the party refused to budge on its threat to vote against the adjustment budget.
Consensus was reached, according to ActionSA, only after the DA-led coalition committed in writing towards allocating funds for hastening the resolution of the Hammanskraal water crisis and the resettlement of the Mamelodi flood victims.
This was disputed by Jacqui Uys, DA Tshwane caucus chairperson, who said: “The Tshwane Adjustment Budget passed as tabled with support from all coalition partners, without any amendments, recommendations or agreements to matters pertaining flood victims or Rooiwal Water Treatment Plant.”
She added that the coalition partners agreed to work together in the administration in the spirit of the coalition, ensuring that unserved settlements would have access to water as was already provided for in the adjustments budget, before ActionSA raised its concerns.
Uys said the Mamelodi flood victims and Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant was and would remain a commitment of the City of Tshwane.
In a joint statement, the Tshwane multiparty coalition confirmed it had voted in favour of the adjustment budget.
“As a multiparty coalition, we are proud of the good work done by the coalition government, the mayor, administration and MMCs for all departments in putting together this first adjustment budget of the new term after the elections.
“This budget will prioritise savings towards core delivery services so we accelerate the maintenance of critical infrastructure in water and electricity, fill potholes, repair streetlights, and provide comprehensive urban management,” said the statement.
Through a media statement, ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont confirmed that after days of being at an impasse, his party had eventually resolved to support the budget on a “… basis of a number of important accommodations”, being reached.
“The accommodations have included R20 million further funding for the provisions of rudimentary services to informal settlements to provide water and sanitation. Further accommodations were made to increase the budget available for relocating informal settlements, with the budgeted funds available effectively doubled.
The adjustment budget was being considered by Tshwane’s municipal council on Monday after the vote had to be postponed from last week due to concerns raised by ActionSA.
Monday was the required deadline for the approval of any adjustment to a municipality’s budget.