The outstanding 2016/2017 grant spending performance of the Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Coalition Government has contributed in the Metro receiving millions.
According to Kristoff Adelbert, NMB Chief of Staff, the NMB coalition government is delighted that its exceptional performance in utilising 100% of their Urban Settlement Development Grant (USDG) has resulted in them being rewarded with a R178 million windfall.
“The new National Treasury policy of punishing under-expenditure of grant funding and rewarding compliant and prudent utilisation thereof is a move that incentivises municipalities to focus spending on underdeveloped communities,” said Adelbert.
“This is an endorsement of the excellent work done by this coalition government since coming into office in August 2016. Having spent 100% of the USDG allocation in the previous financial year, the municipality has been acknowledged and affirmed for our exemplary work with this additional funding for what remains of the 2017/18 financial year.
“With a vast capital infrastructure maintenance backlog as a result of poor governance by our predecessors, this additional funding will go a long way to improving the lives of residents living in township communities,” said Adelbert.
The municipality will now be able to increase the rate at which gravel roads are tarred, water and sanitation infrastructure is repaired or replaced, public lighting is installed and public open spaces are created and kept well-run.
“The municipality commits to continue spending 100% of every Rand allocated to us from USDG, to speed up redress and take Nelson Mandela Bay forward,” said Adelbert.
– REPORTER
