By Nangamso Mabindla
7 April 2005

AFTER passing its draft budget of R1,8-billion last week, it is time for the Buffalo City municipality to take its Integrated Development Plan (IDP) to the public for comment.

The City has already sought input on the IDP from people in rural areas and from Wednesday, 6 April 2005 it is the turn of urban residents to make suggestions. Explaining at the first urban hearing on the IDP at the East London City Hall how the City would use the proposed budget, Councillor John Badenhorst said 77 percent was earmarked for operational expenditure, with 23 percent for capital expenditure.

This means that R1,4-billion will be used for operational purposes such as salaries and wages, repairs and maintenance, telephones and materials, services for which there will be short-term benefits. More than R400-million will be used for long-term purchases and investments, including land and buildings, motor vehicles, construction of roads, electricity and water.

"When we spoke to other wards we discovered that their main concerns were service delivery, housing and electricity," Badenhorst said. "We will try to focus our budget on those three key concerns."

Poverty was also a concern, with 20 percent of the municipality's residents having no income at all. "This is one of the most difficult challenges facing the City, but we are always trying to make sure that the poor are catered for. We will try hard to create working opportunities for our citizens," he added.

However, the City had made great strides in bringing basic service delivery to its citizens:

• about 78 percent of homes had access to water;
• 71 percent had sanitation;
• 68 percent had electricity; and
• 71 percent had refuse collected every week.

Speaking at the first hearing, Mayor Sindisile Maclean said people needed to make a contribution to the IDP, which was concerned with the City's future and direction. "This is where you are able to interact with the City and have an input in the City's long-term vision."

The mayor said that by getting the people involved Buffalo City would be able to find out the priorities of each ward. "We find ward priorities and concerns from these meetings; people need to grab with both hands the opportunity to let us know."

The City expects to complete its public hearings on the IDP on Monday, 18 April 2005.