Civics slam tariff hikes in City's draft budget

Civic associations are pushing back against the City's 2025/2026 Draft Budget due to steep fixed charges, which they say will impose financial strain on middle-income homes.

- JANICE MATTHEWS

The public has until Friday May 2 to comment on the City's R84.1 billion draft budget, which Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis tabled in last month's council meeting.

The Invest in Hope budget makes provision for infrastructure investment of R39.7bn over three years.

The infrastructure investments include over R16.5bn for water and sanitation, R5bn for electricity grid upgrades, R3.4bn for roads, and a further R4.5bn for the new MyCiTTi bus route linking Khayelitsha, Mitchell's Plain and a host of other communities with Wynberg and Claremont.

As part of the City's R6.7bn Safety and Security budget, the mayor said over 700 new municipal police officers will be deployed. These officers will be stationed across every ward citywide.

Mr Hill-Lewis announced major tariff restructuring reforms, which are expected to shield lower-income households from financial pressures.