Buffalo City Metro has set aside more than R10bn for major service delivery projects for the development of townships and beautification of the city for the 2022-2023 financial year. Metro mayor Xola Pakati has been virtually interacting with community members this week to get inputs on their draft 2022-2023 financial year Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and budget adopted by council in April.
THE Eastern Cape ANC elective conference failed to take off as scheduled as the provincial task team was locked in a meeting on Friday April 6 night to put final touches on credentials.
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Mahendra Chaudhry
8 May, 2021, 3:08 pm
Customers line-up outside a supermarket in Valelevu, Nasinu to do their shopping. Picture: ATU RASEA/FT FILE
First, let’s bust the popular myth that the Prime Minister’s office block will cost $7m.
A more realistic assessment of the cost for this highly controversial, luxury set of suites will likely be $50 million.
This misleading perception was created, deliberately or otherwise, in budget 2020/21 by an initial $7m allocation for the complex.
However, the budget estimates do show a projected allocation of further $7m for each of the years 22/23 – making a total outlay of $21m.
This again is grossly under-quoting the cost. I am reliably informed by well-placed architects and civil engineers that, judging from the design concept for the building, it is more likely to cost about $50m, if not more, with a completion time in excess of three years under the current condition.