COOPERATIVE Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Thulasiwe Buthelezi has warned municipalities to ensure that grants are spent appropriately. He stated that the provincial government is concerned about the millions of rands that should be used to improve the lives of the people in the province but are instead being returned to the National Treasury.

Buthelezi was addressing municipalities on Monday in Durban. The municipalities, including Ugu, eThekwini, Ilembe, and others, met with the department to discuss and assess their progress.

Buthelezi said, “One of the most pressing issues affecting our province over the past few years is the poor expenditure of conditional grants received from the National Treasury. This remains a major concern for us as a department and as the 7th administration.

“We have seen millions of rands returned to the Treasury unspent, while our communities continue to cry out for basic services and development.” He emphasised that much of the infrastructure, such as roads, water, and sanitation, is funded through grants.

“This calls for us to tighten our belts and ensure close monitoring of municipalities. No money should be returned to the National Treasury because our municipalities fail to use it. Any kind of grant must be utilised and benefit the people.

“We made a firm commitment that no money will be returned because of failure to spend. Today, we will receive a presentation on the expenditure of conditional grants in the Coastal Cluster municipalities, and we will engage on how to ensure all allocated resources are fully utilised for the benefit of our people,” he stated.

THE MERCURY

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