City takes budget to the people

The City of Cape Town’s draft Budget for the 2022/23 financial year has been tabled for public participation. The theme for this year’s Budget is Doing More for safety, services and jobs. Since 4 April 2022, the City has hosted a number of area-based community meetings, which give residents the chance to engage on the budget. Residents are encouraged to submit their comments until 3 May 2022.

Members of the public have the opportunity to have their say on the draft Budget and to submit their comments to the City until 3 May 2022.

The City has changed the way it engages with residents in order to reduce risk and prevent the spread of Covid-19. Residents are now able to have their say on the draft Budget via social media, telephone, WhatsApp, through mailers, media releases, the City’s website, and engagements at Subcouncil level and other forums.

‘The City is bringing the draft Budget to our residents and ratepayers. It is important that they look over and comment on it, so that they may be part of the City’s efforts to provide the best possible services to residents across the metro. We thank our ward and PR councillors for continuing to be our public and City ambassadors, and helping to keep our residents informed about City matters in an accurate, inclusive and responsible manner.

‘This year’s draft Budget is about doing more for the residents of Cape Town. It is about providing services while keeping rates and charges as low as possible to assist residents, communities and businesses who are struggling.

‘I would like to invite residents to provide us with their inputs on the draft Budget. As a responsive government, public participation assists us to improve where necessary. Once the public participation process has been completed and the public’s inputs have been considered, the draft Budget will be taken to Council for debate and adoption. We thank residents for taking the time to engage with us,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Finance, Councillor Siseko Mbandezi.

Councillor Mbandezi has already attended a number of community engagement sessions, including at the Blouberg Community Hall on Monday, 11 April 2022. Others will still be taking place this week in the Parow, Pinelands, Robinvale and Macassar areas. The last of the meetings will be held tomorrow, 14 April 2022.

Public participation: comment by 3 May 2022

• To view the tabled draft Budget please visit: www.capetown.gov.za/budget or go to your nearest subcouncil office or library for a copy of the budget.

• Collaboration Platform: https://www.capetown.gov.za/ideas.

• Community-based organisation (CBO) representatives may contact their subcouncil managers for further details on their respective area-based community meetings.

• Subcouncil public meeting schedule.

Source: City Of Cape Town