Tabling of the Draft Budget by Executive Mayor of Cape
Town, Alderman Patricia de Lille, at the Council meeting
28 March 2012
Draft Budget: Pro-poor pro-growth
Mr. Speaker,
To take the City to the next level of government, we must have the
resources to help us in our task.
We must have a financial plan and strategy that supports us in achieving
our mandate.
Because the best plans, commitments and strategies ultimately mean
little if we do not have the resources to match our commitments.
Mr. Speaker, this is an administration dedicated to building the African
city of the future on five pillars: the Opportunity city; the Safe city; the
Caring city; the Inclusive city; and the Well-run city.
Over the past year, we have worked hard to ensure that our vision is
being translated throughout the organisation and so translated into even
better delivery for the people of this city.
One of the key interventions we have made was in the budgeting process.
For the first time, the entire Mayco and the City’s leadership sat together,
crafting this budget according to the needs of everyone in Cape Town.
And while, as ever, we have been working with limited resources, I
believe that we are meeting our strategic priorities.
As such, with the budget in draft form, I wish to draw this Council’s
attention to several critical features of the operating budget.
To better fulfil our constitutional mandate of encouraging participatory
and direct democracy, we propose the allocation of an addition R200 000
per ward in the city.
This is where service delivery takes place in the most direct sense, it will
help additional park equipment , upgrading of community facilities and
supporting worthy local initiatives.
Furthermore, this budget proposes additional resources for safety and
security to help with the fight against gangs, speed enforcement and the
management of displaced people within the city, all of which are critical
needs.
To fulfil our obligation of being a more caring city, we have allocated an
additional R5 million to area action teams, who can directly address issues
related to the social decay that causes community breakdowns and thus
assist the implementation of the Urban Regeneration Programme.
And to satisfy the dual mandate of advancing social and economic
development, we propose the allocation of R20 million to EPWP
programmes under the Mayor’s Special Job Creation Programme.
This will serve to help citizens of this city, who are in most need of some
form of income, while at the same help enhance service delivery.
For the Economic Development Partnership, to combine regional economic
strategies for the city, we propose an allocation of R2 million and R1
million to additional forensic capability in the city to maintain our
commitment to being a well-run city and to help the City drive economic
growth, development and inclusion
And, what I feel special pride for, an additional R10 million proposed for
the Mayoral Redress Programme, which will see additional financial
allocations to the poorest identified wards in the city.
But we know that redress is also a broader imperative than one targeted
programme, as important as that is.
Redress is also about the commitment we make to the city and its
development.
As such, in the capital budget, we have allocated a total of almost R2,3
billion to the provision and maintenance of infrastructure to ensure
infrastructure-led growth, which creates the conditions for
economic development, which in turn will help generate much needed job
creation.
Just over R137 million is proposed for the provision of improved services
in informal settlements and backyarder communities.
Over R190 million is proposed for electrification and R58 million for
upgrading the citywide Water Network.
To demonstrate our commitment to an inclusive city that is connected, we
propose a spend of R1, 275 billion on IRT related infrastructure.
We further propose R41 million for the purposes of acquiring land for
additional housing in the city and R29 million for the Hangberg housing
project amongst others.
To help build a caring and inclusive city, we will make a range of
investments throughout the city, most especially in the poorest and most
marginalised areas.
We propose, for example, a new clinic for R6 million in Site B, Khayelitsha
and new Early Childhood Development Centres in Rocklands, Du Noon
and Delft for a total of R14 million.
We propose R34 million for the building of a library in Kuyasa Khayelitsha
and a further R25 million for the construction of a new library in
Bloekombos.
To show our deep commitment to helping the poor, this budget proposes
a projected rates rebate for those who cannot afford to pay of R1,2
billion.
In total, this draft budget proposes a free basic service provision of R111
million for water; R153 million for electricity; and R282 million for refuse.
And this draft also considers the future development of this city.
For instance, it proposes over a next three years a re-prioritisation of
resources to broadband projects of R120 million.
This investment, arguably more than any other holds the promise of kickstarting sustained economic growth.
Mr. Speaker, in total, this draft budget, in meeting our strategic priorities,
amounts to just over R24 billion in operating expenditure and over R5
billion in capital expenditure.
Given our excellent management systems in place and the complement of
highly trained staff who are our partners in excellence, I am confident
that it will enable us to deliver the outcomes that Capetonians expect and
deserve.
From here Mr. Speaker, this draft budget follows the processes of public
participation as laid out in legislation, especially the Municipal Finance
Management Act.
As per the MFMA, this budget will be available to sub-councils, portfolio
committees and the public at large for everyone to have a say and input
before the budget is put before this Council for debate in May.
As such, I formally table it here and, through you Mr. Speaker, ask this
council for permission to engage in a process of public participation.