DA encourages communities to take part in budget consultation meetings

by Cllr Robert Makgaila — DA Committee Member: Public Participation and Petitions

Date: 08 April 2024

Release: Immediate

Type: Media Statement

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) is encouraging residents of the city to take an active part in the consultative meetings to discuss the draft budget for 2024/25 and the revised Integrated Development Plan (IDP).

As the city will be presenting the draft budget and IDP to communities in the city, the DA urges residents in all wards in the city to take part in these meetings. The purpose of these meetings is for residents to have a say on how their money is spent.

Although it is a legislative requirement for the city to present the draft budget to its residents, the DA believes what is important is the opportunity for residents to be heard, and their views reflected in the final budget decision that would have been taken.

While the DA understands that not every idea shared by the residents can reasonably be included in the budget, the party believes the city can at least respond with reasons why ideas cannot be taken on board.

Residents can contact their ward councillors to get details of when they can be part of these meetings in the areas where they live.

The DA is committed to ensuring that public participation is a meaningful process and not merely an arbitrary legislative compliance.

Cllr. Robert Makgaila

DA member Public Participation and Petitions

079 643 1658