Basic Service Delivery and Infrastructure

The Metsweding District Municipality has recorded significant progress with regard to provision of water, sanitation and electricity. However, some challenges remain as the general provision is still below the provincial average.

The total number of households with water below the RDP standards is 7 546 (14% of the total households).

On sanitation, the total number of households with sanitation below RDP standards in the District is 15 670 (29% of the total households).

All the local municipalities within the District have adopted indigent policies and are providing Free Basic Electricity (FBE) and Free Basic Water (FBW). About 20 468 households have been provided with FBE in the District.

The District received R12, 928 million from the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) allocations in 2004/05 financial year. For this period, local municipalities did not receive allocations and will only receive in 2006/07.

Although there has been some progress in the area of housing delivery, 71% of households in Metsweding live in formal housing, 25% in informal housing and 5% in traditional houses. Since 1 April 1994 to 30 September 2005, 33.84% of 7 558 units have been completed which represent approximately 2 550 units. Furthermore, 6 101 subsidies have been allocated to specific beneficiaries.

Land reform issues are regarded as some of the main development challenges for the District. There are currently 754 land claims which are still being investigated in Wallmansthal and at the Berlin mission in the area of jurisdiction of Nokeng Tsa Taemane Local Municipality.

Local Economic Development

The competitive advantage of Metsweding is its proximity to large consumer markets of Gauteng but with lower costs than the rest of the province. The main activities are maize and cattle with flowers, especially roses developing as a niche market.

The manufacturing industry provides most jobs, although the District Municipality recognizes that the sector may face an uncertain future. The greater part of manufacturing is concentrated on downstream agricultural processing such as wood, maize and egg production.

The mining industry employs about 2000 people and centered around Cullinan in the Nokeng Tsa Taemane Local Municipality.

The District has a general low skills base compared to urban areas in Gauteng. The District has no Local Economic Development (LED) strategy, but has a clear focus in developing the Tourism sector and creating better opportunities for SMME’s. The approach includes:

• Access to Finance
• Training and capacity building
• Coordination with Department of Trade and Industry
• Provision of information to SMME’s
• Creation of a database of Tourism SMME’s
• Preferential Procurement of SMME services.

Municipal Financial Viability

The Metsweding District Municipality has a positive financial record as it has received unqualified audit reports from the Auditor General for the 2001/02 and 2002/03. The two local municipalities have received negative reports from the Auditor-General.

The District and the two local municipalities budgeted for R305 million for 2004/05 financial year. Municipal debt challenges are uneven in the District.