iLembe says officials committed to cost-cutting measures
iLembe officials say new austerity measures will remain in place at the district municipality, until its financial situation improves.
Mayor Siduduzo Gumede tabled their 2019/2020 budget - worth R1.2-billion.
He said it's very concerning that the money owed by residents for services, stands at more than R300-million.
The municipality is also struggling with ageing infrastructure, which means there isn't a consistent supply of water in some areas.
The municipality's Sandeep Oudhram says they remain committed to the belt-tightening measures.
He says they've done away with a range of amenities including tea and coffee and are monitoring the over-expenditure on travel claims.
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"Over time, that became a serious issue when we walked in here. That has been cut down substantially," he said.
The IFP's Aubrey Baardman says there needs to be more focus on upgrading ageing infrastructure.
"We would like a situation where the biggest chunk of our budget is channeled toward service delivery especially to deal with issues such as ageing infrastructure," Boardman said.
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The DA's Madhun Sing says debt levels are concerning.
"We will have to put in an action plan to mitigate some of the challenges - especially when it comes to the collection rate of debts. If we don't manage those two areas, we will not be able to maintain a sustainable district municipality," Sing said.
