The DA welcomes the R369.866 million budget allocated towards the Provincial Department of Local Government for the 2023/24 financial period. This budget will focus energy security, service delivery and upgrading critical infrastructure.
The Department of Local Government has been allocated close to R14.5 million for this financial year as part of the Provincial Government’s R1.1 billion energy intervention to make the Western Cape load shedding-free. These funds include:
- R5 million to pilot renewable energy solutions in municipalities,
- R2 million for specialists’ service providers,
- R1.740 million for municipal environmental energy plans, and
- R5.750 million to add additional capacity for water and wastewater problems caused by loadshedding.
These allocations are on top of the R88.8 million that was allocated to the department in the 2022/23 financial year to support municipalities as an emergency response to mitigate the impact of rolling blackouts on municipal water and sanitation services in the province.
Isaac Sileku MPP said: “I am pleased to see the Department of Local Government leading the way in assisting the province in becoming energy secure. Not only will the province’s efforts in making the Western Cape energy secure bring upon positive economic growth, but it will also enable better service delivery, job creation, and enable businesses in the Western Cape province to thrive.”