WATCH: Mayor's plans to save maspala

TSHWANE Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya says the city lacks sufficient income to cover expenses, including the provision of basic services and capital investments, as the city's budget has been unfunded for several years.

She laid out the foundation for Tshwane's recovery, a 100-Day Action Plan on Wednesday, 30 October.

Moya led the multi-party mayoral committee.

"Tshwane's debt stands at over R11 billion, with R6,76 billion owed to Eskom alone. And the total amount owed to the city by creditors stands at R28,3 billion. Capital investment demands over the next 10 years exceed R65 billion, current annual capital budget is only R2,3 billion," she said.

She said the under investment in repairs and maintenance has left the city's ageing infrastructure vulnerable to frequent breakdowns with residents enduring weekly power and water outages.

"Vandalism and criminal activities such as cable theft and illegal connections further strain our infrastructure and reduce our capacity to provide reliable services," she said.

Moya said the city is in a state of disrepair with filthy streets and failing infrastructure. "The stark contrast between affluent Waterkloof impoverished and Winterveld is a matter I hold close to my heart. No one should witness the conditions some residents live in without feeling deeply troubled by such inequality," she said.

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She said they believe they can make meaningful progress by the end of January and set the city on the path of recovery. Moya said the six priorities for the first 100 days in office are financial stability, economic revitalisation, infrastructure development, equitable basic service delivery and maintaining a clean city, by-law enforcement and inner-city rejuvenation law and community engagement and taking government to the people building.

"Our priority communication areas over the next 100 days include updates on Hammanskraal Water Project, electricity pre-paid meter upgrades, water consumption awareness and the impacts of theft, vandalism illegal connections and establishing a culture of payment," she said.

She said the city needs to communicate proactively so that when issues arise, residents hear it from them first. She said they will launch a series of imbizos to introduce the new administration.