May 29, 2003
By Thomas Thale
ANC backbenchers in the city council warmly received the mayor's budget speech by chanting, clapping hands and ululating, but opposition parties expressed dissenting sentiments.
The reception on the minority opposition benches was more cool, with members remaining rooted to their seats.
Executive mayor Amos Masondo on Wednesday presented the city's budget to council. The consolidated operating budget for the 2003/04 financial year stands at R13-billion, which represents a 15% increase from the current budget. In addition, council intends to spend R1,1-billion on capital expenditure for the year.
The budget speech was a culmination of an extensive public consultation process. Referring to the financial crisis that faced the city in the late 1990s, the mayor expressed confidence that it "has been overcome".
Programmes to alleviate poverty, improve service delivery and to boost economic growth became the common thread that ran through the mayor's speech. "The quantity and quality of service delivery is constantly being improved," the mayor said. The mayor allocated R27-million for the Joburg 2030 programmes to facilitate economic growth in the city.
Reading some of the comments received from members of the public, the mayor acknowledged some of the severe criticisms leveled at the council, including concerns about the urban sprawl, crime, wastefulness of resources and the tariff increases. "We have paid particular attention to the issues and concerns that have been raised," said the mayor, vowing to ensure that "the ethos of customer care is promoted among council employees"
Victor Penning, finance spokesman for the Democratic Alliance (DA), poured cold water on the speech, saying "there is a better budget available".
The New National Party (NNP) was the only party to welcome the speech unreservedly. "We must in partnership, build the city. Rate payers, councilors and officials, we must all stretch ourselves to build the city infrastructure and to attain the mayor priorities," said Willie van der Schyf, NNP leader in the city.
Other opposition parties were less charitable. Thandisiwe Mazibuko, leader of the Black Consciousness Forum (previously AZAPO), expressed a more ideological objection to the speech. He was critical of the philosophical underpinnings of the speech, saying that neo-liberal sentiments that inform Nepad and the Joburg 2030 strategy are "inherently not geared to the advancement of the masses of the country".
But it was the DA, the official opposition in the city, that led the onslaught against the budget.
Penning slated the tariff increases announced by the mayor, saying they will adversely affect the poor. "A reasonable tariff increase would have been 6%."
He however cautiously welcomed the city's planned investment in capital expenditure. "I agree that we have to develop previously disadvantaged areas, improve their infrastructure and service delivery." But Penning was critical of the modest R1,1-billion budgeted amount, describing it as "too small. This amount does not cover even the basic infrastructural needs of these areas".
Councillors break into song after the mayor's budget speech
Mike Moriarty, the DA leader in Johannesburg, agreed, adding that even the operating budget of R13-billion could be reduced. "There are too many inefficiencies in the system. We need to improve accountability at a political level." But Moriarty conceded that there had been marked improvements in the way some city departments are run.
For the DA, the only way for council to increase its revenue will be to improve its collection of revenue.
Rudy du Plooy, chief whip of the Christian Democratic Party, agreed that
"the crisis in revenue has not been adequately dealt with" He however considered crime to be the major issue not sufficiently covered in the budget is that of crime. "Metro Police is not adequately equipped. The R14-million given to them is just not enough." Du Plooy however, conceded that "budget always has constraints" and that it is impossible to keep everyone happy.
The DA's alternative budget calls for UACs to be given more "fiscal autonomy" in collecting their revenue. This, according to the DA, would lead to more efficiency. Metro Police would also receive a R30-million extra allocation to help them fulfill their crime combating and by-law enforcement mandate. The DA would increase revenue collection by 5%, which would then be used to offset capital expenditure.
