12 Jul 2016

Maun Administration Authority (MAA) councillors have approved the estimate budget proposal for the 2017/18 financial year.

Presenting the budget proposal recently, chairperson of the finance and education committee, Mr Vepaone Moreti, said even though they were running at an approved budget of P143 727 093.10 their budget proposal for   for the financial year 2017/18 had escalated from that amount to P231 096, 733.05.

He said the amount was made up of the five different categories of votes which are personnel emoluments, running expenses, establishment expenses, special expenses and income or own source revenue.

However Councillor Moreti stated that the categories mentioned are budgeted across all the departments of their local authority.

He said   the Civil and Mechanical Department has been proposed the largest amount of P60, 088, 641.54 adding that of this amount, P28, 613,480.00 was intended for the roads section.

Further, the chairperson said the funds were  planned to tackle the bad roads through frequent maintenance and sectional resealing of at least 2km of the internal roads adding that transport management section seconds the roads section with a proposed allocation of more than P19m.

Mr Moreti said the amount will go towards the purchase of a new grader and increase the fleet  that they have in order to improve implementation of the authority's services. He said the Social and Community Development Department proposed budget is the second largest for their sub district with over P49m allocated to it, saying that most of those funds were geared for Social Welfare section which caters for the destitution programme.

Commenting on the speech councilor Luke Motlaleselelo of Bojanala ward urged officials to always give them the speech on time so that they could have time to read and appreciate the facts before the council starts.

The Chairperson for Maun Administration Authority Mr Gaokgakala Letswee said the money for stock feeding is low, saying that it was because they had reduced the length of time which will be taken by stray cattle at the kraal from 3 months to 2 weeks after which they would sell the cattle upon failure for collection.

Councilor Galaletsang Mhapha urged the sub council to consider buying a helicopter which would help them to visit in the Okavango Delta during the time of inspection, adding that it was not good for them to be provided accommodation by the people they are going to carry inspection in their lodges.ENDS