Hundreds of residents, gathered at the Thohoyandou Town Hall last week to witness the approval of the Thulamela Municipality 2008|2009 financial year IDP, Budget and LED Strategy.

In tabling the budget, the mayor, Khosi Vho Thivhulawi Makumbane, thanked the communities for having supported the municipality during the processes that led to the drafting of the budget. "I would also like to congratulate and salute our communities whose representation is present here with us today. You have chosen to work with the municipality to bring changes to the people you represent," he said.

The total capital estimates for the 2008/9 financial year is R250 124 325 and is an increase of R141 363 837 to last year’s budget. The total operational estimate for 2008/9 is R222 134 235, an increase of R40 973 971 to what was budgeted for the previous financial year.

Out of the budget, an amount of R31 million will be utilized for the electrification of more than 20 villages, in line with the call by the President of the country to have all households in the country electrified by 2012. Of this amount, R15 million will come from Thulamela, while the Vhembe District municipality and the Department of Minerals and Energy will respectively make provision of R12 million and R4,6 million.

An amount of R109 653 730 will be available to spend on the provision and maintenance of roads and storm water infrastructure, while R2 million will be used to purchase vehicles and trucks, R8,5 million will be used to upgrade the Thohoyandou CBD streets, mainly between the post office and Parliament Road. R3,5 million will be utilized to erect the road linking the Thohoyandou CBD and Punda Maria Road, while R4 million will be used to rehabilitate streets in Thohoyandou Unit P and C. R400 000 has been set aside to upgrade streets at Tshifulanani. Rehabilitation of streets at Shayandima will be done to the tune of R5 million and R350 000 will be used in the completion of the construction of the Mannini access road.

R171 000 will be made available to the financial services department to be able to procure office equipment.

A total of R17 827 595.00 will go to Horticulture, Sports and Recreation.

An amount of R24 525 000.00 has been set aside for utilization by Governance Services, of which R15 million will go to electricity partnership and Mig will receive R9,5 million.

The Planning and Development Department will receive R21 million for the provision of fully serviced stands at Thohoyandou Units D.

R700 000 has been set aside for the procurement of furniture and fittings, office equipment and motor vehicles for the corporate services department.

Environment, Health and Waste Management was allocated R5 507 000.

R142 047 000 for the provision of water has been provided for in the 2008/9 Vhembe District Municipality’s IDP as the district municipality is the water authority

R27 530 000 has been made available to be spent by the municipality on buildings.

Mayor Makumbane commended communities for the role they are playing in ensuring that the partnership that exists between the councilors, officials, community structures and traditional leadership remains strong He said the municipality was committed to implementing most of its infrastructure projects, using labour-intensive methods in terms of the Extended Public Works Programme, which will in turn create jobs for the unemployed.

The mayor also announced the appointment of a senior staff member who will be responsible for planning and development and one of his responsibilities will be to oversee the implementation of the LED strategy and the strengthening of the LED unit.

He also made a public pronouncement on the renewal of contracts for the municipal manager, senior managers for community services and for technical services, while the chief financial officer’s contract still stands. The post of the senior manager: corporate services, has been advertised.