R88,815m for municipalities to address load-shedding

GARDEN ROUTE | KAROO NEWS - Premier Alan Winde and Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning Anton Bredell presented a symbolic cheque to Western Cape mayors at the premier's coordination forum meeting held in Cape Town in February.

Bredell said the amount of R88,815m, made available from the Provincial Unforeseen and Unavoidable Reserve Fund, is allocated to Western Cape municipalities to procure emergency diesel generators to be used for water treatment, water distribution and wastewater systems during times of prolonged load-shedding.

In the Garden Route and Karoo areas the following amounts were allocated:

Kannaland R1 075 000
Hessequa R3 800 000
Mossel Bay R5 000 000
George R14 220 000
Oudtshoorn R4 665 000
Bitou R5 600 000
Knysna R2 400 000
Garden Route R1 600 000
Laingsburg R60 000
Prince Albert R175 000
Beaufort West R1 115 000
Central Karoo R350 000

Strict conditions

Bredell said strict conditions, as set out in the transfer payment agreements that are concluded with each of the municipalities, will inform the transfer of the funds.

These conditions include:

• Monthly financial and non-financial performance reports, including procurement information, must be submitted to the Department of Local Government as stipulated in the Transfer Payment Agreement.

• Municipalities must report monthly on progress of this spending until the project is completed.

• Municipalities must submit business plans to the Department of Local Government, addressing a detailed budget, a roll-out plan and the intended outcomes.

• The money may only be used for the projects detailed in the approved business plan.

• Municipalities must follow transparent and fair procurement processes compliant with the Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act 56 of 2003), and procurement regulations.

• All assets purchased with these funds must be included in the asset register of the municipality and confirmation of this must be submitted to the Department of Local Government.

Bredell said these conditions will ensure that the money is used only for the intended purpose.

"As provincial government, we are focusing on interventions that will deliver tangible load-shedding relief to our residents on the short term, while we develop our long-term plans for sustainable and reliable electricity supply to the Western Cape province."