ALTHOUGH it will only take place after the local government elections in August, the City of uMhlathuze is working flat out on the incorporation of Ntambanana into its municipality.
This follows the recent demarcation of municipal boundaries that sees the disestablishment of Ntambanana Municipality and the subsequent growth in the City’s number of wards from 30 to 34.
The matter was brought to the attention of Exco and Council on Wednesday when the Adopted Medium Term Revenue and Expenditure Framework (MTREF) was tabled by the Financial Services portfolio.
City’s Mayor Cllr Mdu Mhlongo and Chief Financial Officer, Mxolisi Kunene brought councillors up to speed during the Exco sitting.
The absorption of 17 Ntambanana Municipality staff, three wards and 30 000 more people – many with a zero or low income base – has a number of implications for uMhlathuze, including serious financial challenges and budgetary burdens.
Services provided by the city will obviously have to be extended to the new wards.
Budgeted projects already being implemented in Ntambanana will not be impeded by the imminent incorporation of the three wards.
A Change Management team comprised of members from the municipalities of uThungulu District, Ntambanana, Mthonjaneni and uMhlathuze is working out the ‘nuts and bolts’ of the dissolving of the Ntambanana Municipality.
While the salaries of the 17 new staff members from Ntambanana will be funded from the Demarcation Grant, the city noted that the final split of revenue, expenditure, assets and liabilities will be concluded during the 2016/2017 financial year.
