By Nangamso Mabindla
11 June 2004

BUFFALO City executive mayor Sindisile Maclean urged the city's administrators to make sure the R1.6-billion budget presented to council at a meeting at the East London City Hall on Thursday was spent by next year.

Under-spending was not an option, said the mayor, who was addressing councillors, City officials, business representatives, delegates from the Swedish International Development Agency and representatives from MEC Gugile Nkwinti's office during a dinner gala at the East London Regent Hotel last night. "I want to pose a challenge to the city manager - make sure the money is spent, let us minimise under-spending."

Maclean used the dinner to reflect on the municipality's achievements and consider plans for the City. "This evening is about having fun after a long day … we can reflect on our achievements and lay our plans."

If the money was spent ensuring the City ran smoothly, its citizens and partners would be happy, he said. "If we can minimise this potential hurdle we will be able to ask for an increase for next year's budget from the provincial and national governments."

For the budget to be well spent, the City needed to work in unison with the provincial government, parastatals, business and its people, Maclean said, urging all role players to assist the municipality and form a strong partnership with the City.

City manager Mxolisi Tsika said the City had awards to show for its improvements over the past year. "Our directors, general managers and other staff need to be commended on last year's achievements. This reiterated our commitment to the job at hand."

But, Tsika said, the City had to do more than simply provide services to the people - it had to ensure that economies and development issues were taken into consideration. Buffalo City had 880 000 people who looked to the municipality for services and support.

Tsika told the mayor: "We have a mammoth task ahead of us. We need to create an investor-friendly city. The R1.6-billion will be used wisely."

"Allow us to manage and we'll do wonders - by June next year we will have used the money," he added.