By Nangamso Mabindla
5 April 2007

RESIDENTS will have an opportunity to have their voices heard when the Buffalo City municipality presents its draft 2007-08 Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget to its citizens this month.

The City's senior communications officer, Mamnkeli Ngam, said presenting the IDP and budget to residents was one of the most important ways the City had of interacting with its citizens.

"The aims of the IDP and budget hearings are to present both the draft IDP and budget for the financial year 2007-08 and to provide the opportunity for Buffalo City citizens to contribute towards the final 2007-08 IDP and budget."

Another important aspect of the hearings was for the City to receive feedback on issues raised in last year's hearings. According to Ngam, the IDP and budget public hearings would cover the whole city, from the urban areas to the surrounding rural areas.

"We would like to urge our citizens to come in their numbers and to tell the municipality what they feel should be done in their areas for the next financial year."

The hearings will run from 10 to 25 April.