IDP Budget and Representative Forum Strengthens Community Participation

Story: Sinazo Bonongo | Photo: Sinazo Bonongo

The Burgersdorp Town Hall recently hosted the IDP Budget and Representative Forum, a platform that brought together sector departments, ward committee members, and other stakeholders to engage on critical planning and budgetary matters of the municipality.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor Wesizwe Moeti, who emphasized the importance of equipping ward committees with accurate and relevant information that will empower communities to better understand municipal expenditure and future plans. Sector departments like Agriculture, Human Settlements, Social Development as well as Joe Gqabi District Municipality delivered detailed presentations on their respective mandates, while ward committee members were given the opportunity to ask questions aligned to the priorities of their wards.

In guiding the discussions, committee members were encouraged to focus their questions on issues relating to the municipal budget and development planning. Councillor Moeti reminded participants that service delivery concerns and operational matters are best addressed during the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) Outreach Programme, which is specifically designed for such engagements. To assist in clarifying this distinction, a presentation was delivered highlighting the unique roles of both the IDP Budget and Representative Forum and the IDP Outreach Programme.

The Forum being a prelude to the Outreach Programme enables communities to understand what is happening with finances and while holding all stakeholders accountable on service delivery in the outreach to come.