“We are serious about service delivery

During the previous financial years, excellent work had been done in areas such as provision of water, sanitation, refuse removal, housing and electricity, said the mayor of Musina, Cllr Mihloti Muhlope, when she delivered her State-of-the-Municipality Address (budget speech) at the New Nancefield Community Hall last Friday.

“The fact the some of the 1 000 houses that have been allocated to us by the provincial government have been completed, clearly demonstrates that we are serious about service delivery. We have forwarded all documentation to the Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, whereafter the qualifying beneficiaries will be contacted for housing allocation,” she said. 

According to Muhlope, 2 634 indigent households in the urban areas of Musina receive free basic water from the municipality, while 4 692 households from the villages also benefit from free water provision. "While a few settlements in the country are still struggling to eradicate the bucket system, it gives me pleasure to proudly announce that we don’t have a bucket system in Musina.” 

She said the construction of the R320 million Musina Mall and the establishment of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) was to make prospective investors aware of the fact that there was potential for economic growth in Musina. “The initiative will transform our town into a top investment destination that will attract businesses and foreign direct investment while, at the same time, accelerating industrial development and realizing the country’s industrial action plan and the new growth path. As a logistic hub, the SEZ will create thousands of job opportunities to our people while unlocking many opportunities that were non-existent before.”

According to her, the municipality has completed several projects, which include the Nancefield community high-mast lighting at a cost of R1,5 million. “We have also renovated the community hall in Nancefield Ext 1 at a cost of R2,5 million. Madimbo extension of Thusong Service centre was undertaken at a cost of R1,2 million rand. We also constructed the Nancefield gymnasium at a cost of R2,3 million. Tar roads worth R7,1 million were also constructed in Musina Nancefield.  A new traffic client centre, costing us R6,3 million, is 90% complete.”

She added that during the next financial year, property rates will increase by 6,5%. "Electricity charges will increase by 7,8%, while refuse removal and other services will increase by 6,5%." In terms of the municipality's new plans, she announced that they will construct a grandstand at Skoonplaas Stadium, upgrade the electricity capacity in Musina, construct multi-purpose and community walk-in centres, convert all residential conventional electricity meters to pre-paid and construct paved roads, speed humps and a storm-water drainage system.

She also thanked De Beers Venetia Mine and Vele Colliery for implementing social projects aimed at improving the lives of the people of Musina.

Date:27 June 2016

By: News Correspondent

Correspondent journalists from all over the region supply us with news and sport articles. 

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