12 Feb 2013

Persistent budget cuts in recent years have severely affected provision of services to communities within Tsabong Sub-district Council's jurisdiction.

Briefing the sub-district council during the 2013/2014 budget session recently, finance committee chairperson, Mr Mock Ntau said they had been experiencing budget cuts in the past years which hindered them from providing services.

He said the current financial year budget denoted that the recession was still far from being over. The sub-district was allocated P69 140 600 as the total budget for 2013/2014 financial year.

The amount was made up of P66 054 220 revenue support grant (RSG) and P3 086 380, which the council had to collect as income from various sources.

Mr Ntau, who is councilor for Tsabong North, explained that the sub-district might have to exceed the apportioned budget as the initial request to the ministry was P89 987 370 but instead received P69 140 600 which he considered inadequate considering the sub-district’s needs.

He further said the budget increase this year only catered for increments in personal emoluments which made up to 52.35 per cent of their budget with running expenses taking 21.77 per cent, establishments allocated 5.41 per cent and special expenses taking 20.42 per cent.

Councillor Ntau said the council had failed to collect its budgeted income for several years and that if the trend continued, the sub-district risked plunging into a deficit. He thus called upon other councillors to initiate ways in which the sub district could generate revenue income.

When commenting, councillor for Struizendum, Mr Fredrick Titus urged his colleagues to work collectively to achieve the P3 086 380 revenue collection target to avoid deficit.

Meanwhile, councillors identified Matimela as a potential to raise income in the sub-district. Furthermore they stressed the importance of  utilising government funds wisely when they go on trips. They said officers should always combine trips to avoid using many vehicles. ENDS