16 Oct 2023

Jwaneng Town Council has been urged to improve its revenue collection to avoid deficit.

Delivering the budget for the 2024/25 financial year to the town’s special full council on Wednesday, chairperson of Finance, Works and General Purpose Committee, Cllr Oduetse Rabanna said as indicated in the previous budgets, the council continued to spend more than what it had.

He said it was necessary to come up with cost containment strategies and advance on revenue collection to improve the council’s financial position.

The council’s own revenue sources include community centre fees, day care centre fees, interest on investment, market rent, sanitation fees, trade licences, hire of classrooms, insurance commission, lease rentals and school fees.

Cllr Rabanna explained that there was an increase in the 2024/25 Revenue Support Grant (RSG) by 16 per cent.

“The 2024/25 RSG is P113 318 855, while the current RSG was at P97 287 340, which is an increase by P16 031 515,” he added.

Cllr Rabanna said the council had needs and priorities that had not been addressed due to yearly budget cuts and price escalations of goods and services, adding that all was taken into consideration during preparation of the budget.

“The preparation of the budget was also guided by the review of the previous budgets,” he said.

He said the largest share of the budget would go to human resource and administration with 21 per cent, followed by civil and mechanical engineering services with 13 per cent, while the third largest share would go to council management with 11 per cent.

The fourth largest share will go to architecture and buildings with 10 per cent.

The remaining 45 per cent will be shared by other departments.

Mayor of Jwaneng, Ms Olga Ditsie, urged the council to use the limited resources wisely to develop the town, further highlighting the need for other stakeholders’ involvement in developing the place.

Deputy Mayor, Mr Pema Koolopile, urged councillors and council employees to work together and respect one another to take the town forward.

He appealed to all stakeholders to double their efforts in the development of the town and avoid excuses. ENDS