The City of Johannesburg‘s Finance MMC Jolidee Matongo has welcomed proposals that councillors should not get salary increases this year.
Residents were outraged by a proposal that councillors could see their salaries increase by 6% in 2020, while municipalities are predicting billions of rand in revenue shortfall.
Matongo was presenting his Medium Term Budget Speech, which dropped the proposed R200 tariff increase for pre-paid electricity and put water and electricity increases at 6.6% and 6.2% respectively.
“Madam Speaker we will as a matter of urgency set up a triple unit to expand our own resources within the pressures of economy and the fiscus, we welcome the challenge on the 0% increase for councillors. I am sure each party will have a discussion about this particular matter.”
Matongo says the budget has taken to account the current economic climate.
Up to 500 000 food parcels and vouchers to be distributed to vulnerable households amidst indications that more than a million households in Johannesburg are food insecure #JoburgBudget20 #WeServeJoburg #COVID19SouthAfrica ^TK
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) July 9, 2020
“We have taken a decision to reduce the property rates tariff from the proposed 4.9% to 4%, we have taken a decision to drop water tariff from proposed 8.6% to 6.6% inline with the rand water increase. “
“Equally we have taken a decision to reduce the proposed electricity tariff from the proposed 8.10 % to 6.23%.”
A total of R440 million has been set aside over the medium term for the construction and upgrading of bridges #WeServeJoburg #JoburgBudget20 ^TK
— City of Joburg (@CityofJoburgZA) July 9, 2020