By: Natasha Archary

The City of Joburg’s R80.9 billion budget for 2023/24 presented by Finance MMC, Dada Morero on Tuesday, 13 June has been approved.
Morero’s budget included a R3.9 billion allocation to Pikitup, R15.6 billion to Johannesburg Water for operational funds, and R23.7 billion towards City Power.
The Finance MMC said the budget approval didn’t come as much of a surprise to him, because discussions leading up to his budget presentation included a unanimous decision for the survival of the City of Johannesburg.
Speaking to Newzroom Afrika, Morero unpacked his budget, saying key areas that the budget will be allocated to include aging infrastructure for water and electricity.
“It’s a conservative budget, which is based on an assumption of a collection rate of 87%. Which is what we found from assessments and counsel from National Treasury, so assumptions were not based on a 90% collection rate.
I think it’s also important to indicate that the Auditor General’s report, does raise quite serious issues, especially as far as wasteful expenditure is concerned and, of course Johannesburg has also been flagged, because wasteful expenditure is on the increase.”
Morero said the increase in wasteful expenditure can be attributed to numerous disagreements within the mayoral multi-party coalition government of the City of Joburg.
Costs from luncheons, swearing in ceremonies for the City of Joburg’s mayor/s this past year, cancellations, etc, where all contributing factors towards the wasteful expenditure Morero touched on.
In addition, Morero mentioned to Phemelo Motene on Point of View, that there were millions of unspent grants over the past year.
“It is an unfortunate situation that the previous administration didn’t focus on the spending of grants. As a general weakness of the administration in government we have taken a decision now that we will be spending the grants from the 1st of July.”
A total of 166 voted in favour of the budget, 68 voted against it and there were no abstentions.
Morero’s budget began on a dire note with a picture of the city’s poor finances.
The new budget adds R3 billion on top of the previous year’s budget.
Also read: Johannesburg Roads Agency axes CEO Tshepo Mahanuke



