Is the City's draft Budget exploiting ratepayers

PUBLIC comments for Cape Town's Draft Budget closed on May 2. Many residents expressed outrage over the city's amendments to the budget, just a day before the deadline.

- ADIEL ISMAIL

These changes, updated on the City's Rates Calculator, include: (a) Extending the R435 000 household rebate to properties valued up to R7 million (previously R5m), (b) Raising the income threshold for pensioner rebates from R22 000 to R27 000; and(c) Reducing city-wide cleaning charges for properties valued between R1.5m and R7.5m.

However, charges for properties valued between R500 000 and R1.5m have increased, effectively burdening lower-income residents to subsidise wealthier ratepayers.

Of particular concern is the introduction of fixed charges, on top of usage-based tariffs, for water, sanitation, electricity, and city-wide cleaning.