National Treasury Conducts Mid-Year Budget & Performance Assessment in George
In the photo: Officials from the Treasury and the Presidency were welcomed by the MMC for Finance, Councillor Marais Kruger (third from the left in the front row), alongside senior municipal officials, including Acting Municipal Manager Mr. Godfrey Louw (fifth from the left in the front row).
A delegation from the National Treasury visited George on the 25th and 26th of February 2025 as part of the 2024/25 mid-year budget and performance assessment, focusing on the state of municipal services, including financials, electricity, waste management, water, and sanitation services.
The delegation included officials from the National Treasury, the Monitoring and Evaluation unit of the Department of the Presidency, and the Western Cape Provincial Treasury. They were welcomed by MMC for Finance, Councillor Marais Kruger, and senior municipal officials, including Acting Municipal Manager Mr. Godfrey Louw. The George Municipal team provided in-depth presentations on the municipality’s service delivery and financial performance.
The assessment began with a full-day interactive session on Tuesday, 25 February, where each municipal directorate presented its progress, challenges, and future plans. The following day, Wednesday, 26 February, the delegation conducted site visits to key infrastructure projects, including:
• The existing 20 Ml/d Water Treatment Works in Denneoord has been upgraded, the new 20 Ml/d module, a new residual handling facility and the clear water rising main which is in the process of being upgraded.
• Thembalethu East Reservoir, Tower and Pump Station
• The Glenwood Power Sub-station.
These site visits provided firsthand insight into the progress of critical municipal projects and their impact on service delivery.
Riaan du Plessis, Chief Financial Officer of George Municipality, highlighted the significance of the visit, stating: “This engagement allowed National Treasury to gain a deeper understanding of the day-to-day operational challenges we face in delivering effective services amid high interest rates and rising costs of living. Additionally, it provided an opportunity for Treasury officials to personally inspect projects funded through various grants allocated under the Division of Revenue Act.”
The George Municipality remains committed to transparent governance, fiscal responsibility, and infrastructure development, ensuring continued progress in service delivery for all residents.
