THE Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality (EMLM) adjustment budget for the remainder of the 2016-17 financial year ending on June 30, has not been welcomed by opposition parties with calls for council not to adopt it.
DA caucus leader Chris de Wet said the municipality was in a huge crisis and cited the establishment of a crisis committee last Tuesday as a sign.
He said the budget was supposed to benefit residents yet there was no money made available in the adjustment budget to deal with the collapsing infrastructure.
“The DA says this is not a budget for a crisis.”
De Wet raised the ire of the ANC councillors when he called the capacity building of councillors nonsense and was not allowed to speak again. He later walked out of the meeting, saying he had no reason to stay if he would not be allowed to speak.
Before speaking, he complained that council speaker Mzoxolo Peter had not noted him to speak despite his hand having been up first.
Peter noted ANC councillors finance head Madoda Papiyane and Mzikabawo Ngesi. Both adopted the budget.
“My hand was up first but you chose people who will adopt the budget before I speak,” he said.
Peter said Papiyane was the head of finance and urged de Wet to get to the point. He said capacity building was an entitlement of councillors.
United Front councillor Aaron Mhlontlo said he supported de Wet.
“I have some clarity-seeking questions on the municipal finances but I will move for the budget not to be adopted. We were told we had R98-million in our reserves … where is it now? Why are we spending money we don’t have?” he asked before moving that council not adopt the budget.
Peter said a budget was always work in progress and council adopted it.