The DA in Ekurhuleni Commends the Multi-Party Coalition on Q4 Achievements

by — Cllr. Alta de Beer — DA Spokesperson for MPAC

Date: 19 August 2022

Release: Immediate

Type: Media statement

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni commends the Multi-Party Coalition for its achievements as per the un-audited financial statements for Quarter 4.

As the DA, we welcome the revenue improvement of 10%, which has seen a slight improvement in the collection rate, moving it to 86,53%, which is 6,5% higher than the budgeted collection rate for the quarter. Currently, cash on hand also remains the same at 16 days between the two quarters.

Other key highlights also include:

• Debt impairments being adjusted down.
• Capex is currently at 82% and once all invoices are processed the percentage should be around 90%.
• The 2% incentive for residents paying their accounts kicked in on 01 July 2022 and residents will see the benefits on their accounts in January 2023.
• In order to assist those residents who suffered job losses and revenue losses due to Covid-19 and as a reason of the current economic climate the Debt Rehabilitation Program is set to kick-off on 01 September 2022.
• Finance charges are down, this is a testament of the Executive Leadership not drawing on loans but rather keeping the City’s liabilities at a manageable level.
• The swearing in of new EMPD officers, who will assist with law enforcement and issuing of fines, generating revenue to the City.

It is important to note that during the third quarter, the executive had to break the bank to keep the City afloat due to the Multi-Party Coalition Government inheriting an empty bank account from the previous administration, due to the lack of enforcing credit policies and allowing residents to run up bills of tens of thousands of rands, even hundreds of thousands of rands.

However, even with the financial challenges the Executive had been faced with, the Multi-Party Coalition managed to improve the City’s financial performance and manage a couple of quick wins for our residents which include the cutting of grass, fixing of potholes, repairing streetlights on main roads and the cleaning up illegal dumping hotspots.

In the past financial year, we saw a revenue loss of R2 billion due to load shedding and unplanned energy outages. These have blackouts not only have a negative impact on the City’s local economy but have a devastating impact on the Country’s economy.

That is why we welcome the Executive Mayor’s announcement of signing up with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to assist with power supply to the City, to assist with stabilizing the supply to businesses and residents, the 2500 jobs created through this initiative will be an economic booster and will bring about relief to our local businesses and residents,

Further, we also applaud the MMC of Energy, Cllr Senzi Sibeko for increasing security measures at power supply infrastructure sites to assist with the prevention of theft and vandalism.

Media Enquiries

Cllr. Alta de Beer

DA Spokesperson for MPAC

082 777 1406