The Western Cape Government has given over R88 million to several municipalities to address loadshedding. Premier Alan Winde, on Tuesday, met with mayors at the Premier’s Coordinating Forum in Cape Town. Here the Premier presented a symbolic cheque to the mayors present.

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MEC for Local Government, Anton Bredell, says the amount of R88.815 million is available to Western Cape municipalities from the Provincial Unforeseen and Unavoidable Reserve Fund:

procure emergency diesel generators to be used for water treatment, water distribution and wastewater systems during times of prolonged load shedding

MEC Bredell says there are strict conditions for the spending of these funds. This is set out in the Transfer Payment Agreements, informing the transfer of the funds. These conditions include:

• monthly financial and non-financial performance report. This includes procurement information given to the Department of Local Government, as set out in the Transfer Payment Agreement.
• municipalities must report monthly on spending progress until the project is complete and use the money must only for projects in the approved business plan.
• assets purchased with these funds included in the asset register of the municipality. Confirmation submitted to the Department of Local Government.
• follow transparent and fair procurement processes. Municipalities must be compliant with Local Government: Municipal Finance Management Act, 2003 (Act 56 of 2003) and procurement regulations.

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MEC Bredell says these conditions will ensure municipalities use the funds only for the intended purpose:

As Provincial government, we are focusing on interventions that will deliver tangible load shedding relief to our residents on the short term, while we develop our long term plans for sustainable and reliable electricity supply to the Western Cape province

This falls in line with Premier Alan Winde’s ‘urgent’ plant to protect municipalities from loadshedding, as said during his State of the Province Address, last month. He requested that the provincial treasury allocate over R1 billion in response to the energy crisis, reports News24:

We are making sure that municipalities are resourced to ensure safe drinking water and working sewage infrastructure during rolling blackouts through the release of nearly R89 million in emergency funding

The funds allocated to municipalities:

Matzikama R1 050 000.00
Cederberg R1 600 000.00
Bergrivier R3 600 000.00
Saldanha Bay R2 950 000.00
Swartland R10 945 000.00
West Coast R1 900 000.00
Witzenberg R475 000.00
Drakenstein R6 000 000.00
Stellenbosch R6 175 000.00
Breede Valley R950 000.00
Langeberg R350 000.00
Cape Winelands R950 000.00
Theewaterskloof R1 800 000.00
Overstrand R6 700 000.00
Cape Agulhas R350 000.00
Swellendam R1 360 000.00
Overberg R1 600 000.00
Kannaland R1 075 000.00
Hessequa R3 800 000.00
Mossel Bay R5 000 000.00
George R14 220 000.00
Oudtshoorn R4 665 000.00
Bitou R5 600 000.00
Knysna R2 400 000.00
Garden Route R1 600 000.00
Laingsburg R60 000.00
Prince Albert R175 000.00
Beaufort West R1 115 000.00
Central Karoo R350 000.00

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