At the adoption of the City of Cape Towns budget on the 26th of June, the ACDP ensured that the voice of residents were heard by not supporting the adopted budget.
The ACDP acknowledged that the City’s proposed R84 billion budget is its most ambitious yet, with major allocations toward infrastructure, safety (R7 billion), and housing upgrades (R3.5 billion). While these investments align with the Integrated Development Plan and aim to create employment and enhance service delivery, the budget is deemed not be feasible for the majority of middle income homes.
Despite its merits, the budget is unaffordable for many residents. Thousands of Capetonians together with over 45 ratepayer associations have rejected the budget, mainly due to unaffordable tariff hikes. Even with expanded relief measures and reduced cleaning charges, 87% of public feedback was negative.
In light of the current economic climate—marked by high unemployment and a rising cost of living—the ACDP believes that while the City seeks to invest in hope, what residents truly need is investment in their pockets. Therefore, the ACDP could not support a budget that placed further financial strain on Cape Town’s ratepayers.
