CAPE TOWN: The property owners have received some relief after the city council at the weekend decided to adjust downwards its property rates increase for the 2015-16 financial from 10.83% which was proposed in the draft budget, to 10%.
But residents will still have to endure above-inflation increases for basic services, including water, electricity and sanitation, which will increase 11%, 10.82% and 11% respectively. Despite opposition by the African National Congress (ANC) in council, the city at the weekend approved a total budget of just more than R38bn, with R32.1bn being earmarked for operating expenses and R6bn for capital projects.
Delivering her budget speech in council on Friday, Cape Town mayor Patricia de Lille said that the extensive public participation process to gather input on the draft budget demonstrated that residents were under financial strain. “All of the ratepayers associations, all of the distressed residents who have engaged with us: we have listened,” Ms de Lille said.
“This (the public participation) was not a publicity exercise. We have listened … (I) propose an amendment to the budget as advertised that will bring down the rate increase to 10% from 10.83% using identified surplus funds and keeping other tariffs and charges the same as those presented during public participation.” Ms de Lille said that the budget was for all the residents of Cape Town, including the poor.
