By Nangamso Mabindla
13 April 2007

JOBS and houses are two of the concerns highlighted by rural villagers from Tsholomnqa, who were invited to comment on the City's R2-billion draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget.

The Buffalo City residents raised issues such as the improvement of roads, the provision of adequate housing, employment and free basic electricity.

The draft 2007-08 IDP and budget was presented to the community, at the Xhameni Community Hall on Thursday, 12 April, by a councillor, Sithembiso Tyilo. He said that the City was concerned about the needs of the people.

"To show that we are serious about the IDP and budget, we first held different forums to discuss it. Last year we held strategic workshops, sessions and also went on a Mayoral Imbizo to hear what our people wanted in the 2007-08 budget."

Looking at the challenges facing the municipality, Tyilo said that the unemployment rate had increased to 39 percent. "For our communities to grow, we as the municipality need to improve economic growth by creating an environment that is investor friendly."

He explained that the City Development Strategy, the municipality's 30-year economic plan, would be used to lure investors.

Speaking about their concerns, Tyilo encouraged those without free basic electricity to apply to the municipality for the grant.

"I encourage you to get forms from your ward councillor and apply for free basic electricity. However, to qualify you must be unemployed; if employed the household's income should be less than R1 650 [a month]."

On the subject of roads, he said that the municipality would start work on Tsholomnqa roads in May.

"On the housing front, we contacted the MEC to ask for funds and the provincial government asked us to wait while it tried to improve the existing housing projects as some were of poor quality. It would not be fair for us to continue with contractors that build poor quality houses, so we need to improve the existing ones so that we build good quality houses in future," Tyilo explained.

He promised residents that the municipality would do everything in its power to ensure that some of their needs were met.