City of Cape Town council approves budget for new financial year! The City of Cape Town’s council has approved its budget for the new financial year, despite rejections from opposition parties.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis tabled the city’s reworked budget, which includes a R40 billion infrastructure investment, tariff reforms, and social assistance for struggling households and pensioners.
On Thursday, various opposition parties voiced concern about the budget in a full council meeting, labelling it anti-poor.
City of Cape Town council
Former leader of the African National Congress (ANC) caucus in Cape Town, Xolani Sotashe, accused Hill-Lewis of lying about the city having the lowest municipal rates in the country.
“It is not true that the City of Cape Town has a better indigent policy than any other city. In fact, Cape Town is the highest in terms of charging on rates and tariffs, followed by the city of Ekurhuleni.”
Hill-lewis rejected this, saying rates for sanitation and electricity in Ekurhuleni are both higher compared to Cape Town.
The mayor says the city’s reworked budget will include amendments to its municipal planning bylaw to make it easier to develop affordable housing.
Hill-lewis says the city’s forty billion rand infrastructure investment will be used to tackle sewage overflows, the new MyCiti south-east route and upgrades to water and electricity networks.
In other news – Skeem Saam’s Lethabo Mekoa (Ntswaki) opens up about her journey and missed opportunity
Actress Lethabo Mekoa, best known for her role as Ntswaki on Skeem Saam, revealed that she joined the popular soapie at a time when her dreams had just been crushed.
The 20-year-old was awarded a R1 million scholarship to study acting overseas, personally granted by filmmaker Tyler Perry. However, due to financial constraints and the high cost of living abroad, she had to turn down the opportunity. Read More
