Pixley Ka Seme
By Mpho Moeng
The Northern Cape Provincial Legislature recently held public hearings at the Frances Baard district. These hearings saw all 5 districts of the Northern Cape being invited to participate virtually. The bill under scrutiny was Division of Revenue Amendment Bill (DORA). The Pixley Ka Seme based Siyancuma Local Municipality was part of the proceedings and made valuable inputs.
The revenue was divided in 3 spheres; which is the National share revenue which increases at an annual average rate of 2.6%, transfers to Provinces increase at an average annual rate of 5.8% and transfers to Local government grows at an average annual rate of 5.2%.
The share allocation for 2024 MTEF for Siyancuma Municipality stands at R66 107 2024/25 as it increases to R68 159 2025/26 till to R69 524 in 2026/27. Pixley ka Seme District Municipality stands R63 593 2024/25 to R63 990 2025/26 till R63 583 2026/27.
The equitable share grows at an annual average of 6.1 %, the MTEF allocated through a formula to ensure fairness for all 257 municipalities. The formula had been updated data for Bulk water at 10.8% and Bulk electricity at 12.7%. The formula fully funds on estimated R11.2 million to poor households.
Siyancuma Municipality said it is extremely happy for the introduction of the Smart Meters Grant, as it will sustain electricity/water operations towards efficient trading services that are cost effective and self-sustainable.
The implementation is scheduled to start 2024/2025 with cities developing turnaround strategies to be eligible for the new grant that will be effective 2025/26.
Key to the implementation of the grant is enhancing the usage of regulatory frameworks in conditional grants system from DWS’s watch report in the prioritization of water and sanitation projects funded from general purposes grants (USDG,IUDG and MIG) from 2024/25, municipalities are required to ensure that the results of the green drop, blue drop an no drop assessment are considered in the planning and prioritization of the project ( IUDG and MIG).
Amongst those who participated was Mr. Van Wyk, a community member based in Douglas. Said Van Wyk, “as the community we accept the bill especially as it takes it to consideration issues related to safety.”
