In a recent city council address, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis revealed that Cape Town has set a new record for infrastructure spending, with a whopping R6.94 billion invested during the 2022/23 financial year. This surpasses even the City’s investment during the FIFA World Cup, demonstrating its commitment to delivering on budgetary promises.
Top-Performing Directorates
The City’s Safety and Security, Water and Sanitation, Energy, and Human Settlements directorates shone in particular, with spending percentages of 99.6%, 95%, 96.9%, and 99.3%, respectively.
Ambitious Agenda for the Future
Looking ahead, Cape Town has allocated an R11 billion budget for infrastructure in 2023/2024, a 41.5% increase in spending from the previous year. The City aims to achieve a 134% increase in expenditure over three years, totalling R43 billion in investment. This substantial boost is expected to create 135,000 direct jobs and drive wider economic growth.
Job Growth and Equitable Distribution
Cape Town has been consistently experiencing job growth for four consecutive quarters, resulting in a record 1.7 million people employed, with 279,000 jobs added in the last year alone. Mayor Hill-Lewis is enthusiastic about this unprecedented capital expenditure, highlighting the importance of investing in projects that unlock the city’s potential and draw in investors.
Addressing concerns about equitable distribution, the Mayor revealed that 74% of the City’s R11 billion infrastructure budget for 2023/24 will directly benefit lower-income households. This strategic investment is promoting economic progress, with Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain leading the way in receiving approved residential building plans for the coming year.
Urgency for Metro Infrastructure Investments
Mayor Hill-Lewis also emphasized the urgency for metros to increase their infrastructure investments, citing recent collapses of critical infrastructure in major South African cities. Cape Town’s planned three-year infrastructure spending will surpass the combined investments of Johannesburg and Durban. The Mayor referenced the explosion on Johannesburg’s Bree Street, asserting that neglected and chaotic underground infrastructure can have severe consequences, compromising residents’ safety and well-being.
Summary of Achievements
In his address, Mayor Hill-Lewis summarised the progress achieved during his administration’s first full financial year. The City has made significant strides in ending load shedding, securing renewable energy tenders, replacing sewer pipes, enhancing law enforcement, initiating housing projects, and implementing various development projects. Smaller but equally important projects, such as building repairs, community pool reopenings, and the restoration of the iconic City Hall clock, have also been completed.
Cape Town’s unprecedented investment in infrastructure sets the stage for a thriving future with ample opportunities for economic growth, job creation, and an improved quality of life for all residents. As the City continues to invest in critical projects, it solidifies its position as a beacon of hope and progress in South Africa.
