Opposition parties in the Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality have welcomed mayor, Sarah Moleleki’s budget, stating it reflects the wishes and needs of the residents.

Moleleki said the 2013/2014 financial year budget will be efficiently managed to ensure sustainability and viability of provision of services to residents by the municipality.

She said the proposed R1.4-billion budget will be divided into various components such as infrastructure, water, cemeteries and parks, electricity, salaries and repairs and maintenance.

She said previous service delivery successes were evidence that the municipality was on the right track.

“The Durban-Free State-Gauteng development corridor which forms part of strategic infrastructural projects benefited 8 000 households in Tshiame. At Harrismith we have a food processing park which provides logistics for services providers. In Mankwane the integrated energy centre worth fourteen million rands will have a convenience store as well as a library that is already under construction.”

Moleleki said the municipality was determined to address youth unemployment and provision of education.

“We have 20 youth from FET colleges who were pursuing public management and communications who are being trained by the municipality after finishing their N6 qualifications. The municipality is going to make sure they get their diploma certificates.

“The National Youth Development Agency is busy training 48 youth on how to write curriculum vitae and to conduct an interview. Fifty youth who are in business have been trained in customer care and will receive NQF customer care certificates,” she said.

Moleleki said the municipality had sold a piece of land for the building of a private hospital in Harrismith, with construction expected to commence early next year. The provincial government has appointed a consultant to upgrade the Intabazwe informal settlement, where the development of 690 sites has been approved.

In response, the opposition parties gave the budget a clean bill of health. Popy Julia Lebesana, of Dikwankwetla South Africa Party, described it as ‘very inclusive of all the resident’s needs” but vowed to monitor its implementation.’

Her sentiments were echoed by the African Christian Party’s Mosela Mosikili, who acknowledged the municipality’s milestones and urged it to keep up the word work.

For her part, Sebolelo Letooane, of the DA, pleaded with residents to stop sabotaging the municipality by not paying for services and illegally connecting the electricity.