Witzenberg Municipality passes R994 million budget

Issued by Wendy Kaizer-Philander MPP – DA Constituency Head, Witzenberg
31 May 2023 in Press Statements

Attention broadcasters: Please find attached a soundbite and pictures here and here

The DA in the Western Cape welcomes the Witzenberg Municipality Council unanimously passing its R994 million budget.

This budget seeks to strengthen service delivery and infrastructure as well as protect residents against the effects of economic downturn and rolling power blackouts.

Some of the budget highlights include:

  • Witzenberg Municipality has doubled its efforts to create job opportunities with an increase in its budget for job creation from R4.3 million to R9.6 million.
  • A new valuation roll will be implemented from 1 July 2023 with the majority of property rate tariff increases to be limited to 6% – except for Eskom electricity increases.
  • Additional funding will be allocated towards the repair and maintenance of roads.
  • Over the next 3 years, the municipality will implement new public infrastructure projects including a New Regional Cemetery, Tulbagh Reservoir, Op-Die-Berg Reservoir, the Tierhokskloof Bulk Pipeline and the Upgrading of the Tulbagh Sport Facilities.
  • Significant progress will be made during this financial year in the Van Breda Bridge project with the R23 million allocation from the Western Cape Provincial Government.
  • R5 million of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant was allocated to purchase a Yellow Fleet which will continue the municipality’s efforts to implement sustainable waste management services.
  • R6 million, in loan funding, will be allocated to the implementation of Waste Transfer Stations as the municipality phase out the use of skips.
  • Another R3 million, also from loan funding, has been set aside for the fencing of the Landfill site at Prince Alfred Hamlet.

The DA congratulates the Witzenberg multi-party coalition for passing a budget which puts the interests of the people of the municipality first. We wish Executive Mayor Hendrik Smit and his mayoral committee well in implementing this budget.