Pretoria - Host cities for the World Cup soccer tournament next year are struggling to spend their capital budgets.
This could mean that the soccer stadiums may be ready, but that traffic jams, dry taps and power failures could be on the cards for soccer enthusiasts visiting these cities.
With three-quarters of the current municipal financial year having elapsed, the Mbombela municipality in Nelspruit has spent only about one-third of its capital budget, Tshwane about 41% and Rustenburg 44%.
In its most recent review of municipal budgets National Treasury has expressed concern over the under-expenditure.
This comes after President Jacob Zuma warning last week in his State of the Nation speech that the government - against the background of the economic crisis - should spend every cent wisely and fruitfully.
There would be no wastage, and no budget carry-overs, he declared.
From the Treasury's report it appears that the backlog is not in the building of the stadiums, because more than 95% of the allocations for them had already been spent by March 31.
Danny Jordaan, chief executive of Fifa's local organising committee, told Sake24 on Sunday that construction of the stadiums was on track.
He said the host cities should, however, draw up an integrated development strategy on the upgrading of general infrastructure like electricity, water and roads.
"Most of the work will ultimately be done, but is being expedited with a view to the World Cup," he explained.
After the tournament residents will continue to benefit from the improved infrastructure.
Jordaan reckons this would be seen as a positive legacy of the soccer tournament.
From Treasury's report it appears that expenditure on roads is generally low. This despite the fact that the transporting of soccer fans to and from airports, stadiums and their accommodation is universally regarded as the organisers' major operational challenge.
By the end of March the host cities had on average spent less than a third of their capital budgets on roads, pavements, bridges and storm water facilities. The municipal financial year ends on June 30.
Mangaung (21.9%), eThekwini (22.9%) and Mbombela (24.3%) had the poorest performance in this regard.
Only three of the host cities had spent more than half of their capital budgets for water. Mangaung (92.1%) did best, with eThekwini (72.3%) coming second and Polokwane (51.5%) only just passing the halfway mark. The other six host cities have spent 30% to 47% of their capital allocations for water.
The host cities have on average spent 46.1% of their capital budgets for electrical projects, with Tshwane (63.4%) leading the group and Mbombela (28.8%) taking the rear.
The Treasury says its report is aimed at empowering provincial and national governments for their supervisory role over municipalities, and points out problems in implementing municipal budgets and allocations.
- Sake24.com
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