April 17, 2025 – St Francis Today

Kouga Local Municipality invites public input on draft budget for 2025/2026

by SFT | Apr 17, 2025 | St Francis

For Immediate Release

Kouga – Kouga Local Municipality’s Draft Budget for the 2025/2026 financial year was officially tabled and approved during an Ordinary Council Meeting held on Monday, 31 March 2025.

With the new financial year set to commence on 1 July 2025 and conclude on 30 June 2026, the municipality invites all councillors, residents, ward committee members, and stakeholders to actively engage with the proposed budget.

Kouga Local Municipality invites public input

Public participation is vital, and community members are encouraged to review the draft document – available at municipal offices, libraries, and online at www.kouga.gov.za – and submit their comments, ensuring their voices are heard in shaping Kouga’s development priorities for the year ahead.

Accompanying the draft budget are key documents, including the Draft Integrated Development Plan (IDP) Review and the Draft Service Delivery and Budget Implementation Plan (SDBIP) for the 2025/2026 financial year.

Key Financial Highlights

The proposed budget reflects an increase in operating revenue by 7.89%, or R107,413 million, for the upcoming financial year, compared to the 2024/2025 Adjustments Budget. Operational revenue for the two outer years is projected to grow by 5.68% and 5.16%, resulting in a total revenue increase of R270,906 million over the medium-term revenue and expenditure framework (MTREF).

Operating expenditure for the 2025/2026 financial year is estimated at R1,605 billion, marking a 9.86% rise from the 2024/2025 Adjustments Budget.

Operating Expenditure

Major expenditure items for 2025/2026 include:

Employee-related costs: 32.68%
Bulk electricity purchases: 29.03%
Depreciation: 8.87%
Contracted services: 8.87%
Inventory consumed: 7.13%
Operational costs: 6.32%
Debt impairment: 4.06%

Sources of Revenue

The operating budget will be funded mainly through the following revenue streams :

Service charges: 52.75%
Property rates: 21.79%
Government grants and subsidies: 14.60%

Proposed Increases in Rates and Service Charges

Effective 1 July 2025, the following adjustments are planned:

Property rates: 6%
Water: 6.9%
Sanitation: 6.9%
Refuse collection: 6.5%
Electricity: 12.74% (average increase in income)
Environmental Management Fee: 6.5%

Capital Budget and Projects

The capital budget for 2025/2026 is set at R260,204 million, reflecting a decrease of 4.89% compared to the 2024/2025 Adjustments Budget. Funding will primarily be sourced from government grants, subsidies, and borrowings due to limited internal resources.

A total of more than R130 million has been allocated for the upgrading of roads, while over R13 million has been set aside for the improvement of gravel roads. Close to R30 million will go towards upgrading informal settlements.

The KwaNomzamo Waste Water Treatment Works is set to be upgraded at a cost of nearly R7 million.

Other significant infrastructure projects include:

Phase 1 upgrade of the Thornhill Sewer Treatment Works – R1.8 million.
Kruisfontein bulk sewer link line – R1.3 million.
KwaNomzamo bulk sanitation: pump station and rising main – R5.1 million.
Apiesdraai pump station – R1.9 million.
KwaNomzamo bulk water: new pipeline – R3.1 million.
Kruisfontein bulk water supply: Gill Marcus reservoir and pipeline upgrade – R3.2 million.
Ramaphosa Village reservoir – R4.0 million.
New reservoir on Portion 2 of the Farm Thornhill – R2.3 million.
Loerie Sewer Pump Station upgrade and new sewer rising main – R4.6 million.
St Francis Bay: boreholes – R1 million.

Public Input

Kouga Executive Mayor, Hattingh Bornman, reaffirmed the municipality’s commitment to transparent and inclusive governance, emphasising that public input will play a crucial role in finalising the 2025/2026 budget.

“We value the voices of our residents and are committed to carefully considering all concerns and suggestions before adopting the final budget,” he said.

Residents are encouraged to submit their written comments on the draft budget before 09 May 2025 to sabrahams@kouga.gov.za or zgonqoba@kouga.gov.za. The municipality will consider all concerns and feedback before the final budget adoption on 29 May 2025.

Olympian Andy Birkett is the favourite for Saturday’s Pam Golding KING OF THE KROMME

by SFT | Apr 17, 2025 | St Francis

2024 Paris Olympics paddler, multiple world marathon champion and 15 times Duzi winner Andy Birkett is the favourite to lift the Pam Golding King of the Kromme trophy for a second time after Saturday’s race.

And his wife Nicky, whose credentials almost match Andy’s, is the hot favourite to win her first Pam Golding Queen of the Kromme title, although the “Queen” for the last two years, Chloë Bunnett , will be sure to push her all the way.

Olympic paddler and world champ Andy Birkett paddled a St Francis canal time trial two weeks ago with the Pam Golding franchisee

The course records for this 20km race will be under threat! So, if other paddlers want gold, maybe they should consider the 12km short course.

The 3pm start and the finish of this race, held every year since 2006, with the same sponsor, is at and at the Cove, Shore Road.

Entries are streaming in, and close at 11am on Saturday … https://paddler.paddlesportsa.com/

Paddlers working hard up the river in a Pam Golding King of the Kromme a few years ago

PRIZES

Prize money for the trophy winners was doubled this year from R2000 to R4000. And so the total cash purse increased from R8000 to R12000. This is to ensure that we continue to lure the cream of SA’s paddlers. The winners in the past have been household names in the paddling community, and we want to keep it this way. From the sponsor’s point of view, it is wonderful to attract a big field, especially of locals, but famous winners are also great for the profile of the event.

The start of last year’s Easter Saturday Pam Golding KING OF THE KROMME

There are prizes for the first three men and ladies, and girls and boys under 18, and ladies and men over 65, for both the short and long race. And a lucky draw prize of a sought-after Carbonology split paddle (value R3500), donated once again by Carbonology, co-sponsors for the last 15 years.

PAST WINNERS

Former “Kings” Jasper Mocke (three times), Greg Louw (two times), Matt Boumann (once) and last year’s winner Ricky Talevi (all household names in the paddling world) are not competing this year, so locals are hoping that St Francis ace Phil Smith will be on the second step of the podium. Two times “Queen” Jade Wilson will unfortunately be missing on Saturday.

CONDITIONS PREDICTED FOR SATURDAY

Low tide is at about 12.30pm so the tide will be coming in all afternoon, but the tides will be neap tides, so not too strong or high. The weather forecast looks good, so there could be lots of boats, fishing and skiing up the river, to add some boat wake to add to paddlers’ difficulties. There will be a safety boat accompanying paddlers, in case anyone needs help, which is very unlikely.