MCCI’s Comments on Steve Tshwete Municipal Budget 2025/26

Several members reviewed and submitted comments on the STLM Budget 2025/26. There were key issues that was highlighted by the members. 

On the proposed revenue adjustments, MCCI is of the opinion that as STLM has increased the property tax income by an average of 34.42% during the previous year, the increase of 4.4% should be scrapped.  

MCCI is concerned about the maintenance and capital projects of the Steve Tshwete Municipality.  Several meetings with the STLM’s Electrical Department have served to illuminate a number of key issues. The STLM’s SCADA program management and execution thereof is evidence of their competence. A year has gone by, another deadline is missed, and phase one of the SCADA system remains uncommissioned.   

The quality of water and the water infrastructure is another issue that was a concern.  With an increase of 8.5% STLM’s performance has been poor.  Below is the information supplied by a member:  

“The Blue drop, Green drop and No drop scores tumbled since 2014 (see screen shots below of extracts from latest reports published). Compared to similar LMs else ware in SA, STLM’s budget composition should more or less look the same to perform as well as those. I believe a bigger portion of the available funds should be allocated to recruitment (where a shortage of skilled staff exists) and training of all Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) and Water Treatment Works (WTW) process controllers and their managers. I have done a lot of research in this field and my findings are shown in the presentation attached.”  

The No Drop Certification of 43% of the water use efficiency regulation is a concern.   

Members interested in participating in the various infrastructure Portfolio meetings should contact Janie Boshof at secretary@middelburgchamber.com.