R88.815 million assistance to municipalities to address loadshedding

Anton Bredell, Western Cape Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning together with Premier Allan Winde today presented a symbolic cheque to Western Cape mayors at the Premier’s Coordination Forum held in Cape Town.

Minister Bredell said the amount of R88.815 million, 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. The following amounts are allocated per municipality:

• Matzikama R1 050 000.00
• Cederberg R1 600 000.00
• Bergrivier R3 600 000.00
• Saldanha Bay R2 950 000.00
• Swartland R10 945 000.00
• West Coast R1 900 000.00
• Witzenberg R475 000.00
• Drakenstein R6 000 000.00
• Stellenbosch R6 175 000.00
• Breede Valley R950 000.00
• Langeberg R350 000.00
• Cape Winelands R950 000.00
• Theewaterskloof R1 800 000.00
• Overstrand R6 700 000.00
• Cape Agulhas R350 000.00
• Swellendam R1 360 000.00
• Overberg R1 600 000.00
• Kannaland R1 075 000.00
• Hessequa R3 800 000.00
• Mossel Bay R5 000 000.00
• George R14 220 000.00
• Oudtshoorn R4 665 000.00
• Bitou R5 600 000.00
• Knysna R2 400 000.00
• Garden Route R1 600 000.00
• Laingsburg R60 000.00
• Prince Albert R175 000.00
• Beaufort West R1 115 000.00
• Central Karoo R350 000.00

Minister Bredell said strict conditions, as set out in the Transfer Payment Agreements, which 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.

Minister 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.”