Latest news with #Hill-Lewis
Eyewitness News
29-05-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
PRASA reveals it's spent R1.3bn so far on getting CT's central line back on track
CAPE TOWN - The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) said it spent R1.3 billion so far to ensure that train services on Cape Town's central line were back on track. It's the busiest train corridor in the Western Cape, transporting more than 600,000 passengers daily during peak times. The central line was brought to its knees by illegal occupation of railway tracks and infrastructure vandalism just before the COVID-19 pandemic. ALSO READ: • Creecy hails reopening of Chris Hani rail corridor on CT's central line as a critical milestone • After Chris Hani rail corridor reopened, Hill-Lewis keen to see full train service resume in CT • Crucial link in Cape Town's central rail network reopens PRASA officials said they'd made inroads in recovering almost all train services, except for three train stations. Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, together with PRASA officials, went on a train ride on Thursday from the Chris Hani train station in Khayelitsha to the Cape Town CBD. This was part of the re-launch of train services to this leg of the city's central line. PRASA CEO Hishaam Emeran said that the R1.3 billion spent excluded the procurement of new trains. "It's mainly on the infrastructure recovery. Rebuilding the tracks, looking at our electrical infrastructure, the overhead lines and our substations that we had to rebuild, the passenger stations that we had to rebuild." He added that that full train services should be restored by the end of July on all rail networks in the Mother City.
IOL News
29-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Cape Town Mayor unveils budget changes to ease ratepayer burden
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announces major tariff cuts and confirms the City's R40 billion infrastructure commitment during the tabling of the amended 2025/26 "Invested in Hope" budget . Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has tabled major changes to the City's 2025/26 "Invested in Hope" budget, slashing proposed tariffs to ease the burden on ratepayers, while maintaining an ambitious infrastructure investment plan valued at R40 billion. Hill-Lewis said that these additional measures will complement the existing wide-ranging relief already contained in this budget He confirmed that the relief will 'bring meaningful relief to more homes, with bills lowering by up to 35% compared to the March budget for households under R7 million in value.' Responding to feedback from Capetonians, the mayor said the amended budget will result in 'meaningfully lower increases to bills' compared to the version tabled in March. 'We have listened carefully to ratepayers in higher value properties,' Hill-Lewis said. 'And do agree that not everyone in higher value homes is wealthy or cash-flush.'
IOL News
29-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Cape Town Budget: Reduced tariffs, more pensioner relief, R40bn infrastructure
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announces major tariff cuts and confirms the City's R40 billion infrastructure commitment during the tabling of the amended 2025/26 "Invested in Hope" budget . Image: Henk Kruger / Independent Newspapers Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has tabled major changes to the City's 2025/26 "Invested in Hope" budget, slashing proposed tariffs to ease the burden on ratepayers, while maintaining an ambitious infrastructure investment plan valued at R40 billion. Hill-Lewis said that these additional measures will complement the existing wide-ranging relief already contained in this budget He confirmed that the relief will 'bring meaningful relief to more homes, with bills lowering by up to 35% compared to the March budget for households under R7 million in value.' Responding to feedback from Capetonians, the mayor said the amended budget will result in 'meaningfully lower increases to bills' compared to the version tabled in March. 'We have listened carefully to ratepayers in higher value properties,' Hill-Lewis said. 'And do agree that not everyone in higher value homes is wealthy or cash-flush.' The city has extended the rates-free benefit from R5 million to R7 million in property value and raised the qualifying income threshold for pensioner rebates from R22,000 to R27,000 per month. 'A pensioner rebate for City-Wide Cleaning has also been included, which will offer up to 100% off this charge,' he announced. Homes valued at R1.2 million will see up to 15% lower monthly bills, while those between R5 million and R7 million could see reductions of up to 40%. According to the mayor, 'the relief will be even greater' for pensioners. Yet despite this extensive relief, the City is not backing down on infrastructure. 'We cannot cut or re-phase this City's infrastructure budget. There are no luxury or optional major infrastructure projects in this budget that are not urgently needed,' Hill-Lewis said. He added that 75% of the R40 billion budget 'will directly benefit lower-income households.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Projects include upgrades to wastewater plants, sewer and water pipe replacements, new water sources, and the ongoing MyCiTi expansion from Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain to Wynberg and Constantia. 'These are just some of the reasons why we must keep intact our South African-record R40bn infrastructure budget,' he said. Fixed charges will remain part of the system to ensure financial sustainability. 'Many costs are fixed in nature, pipelines, trucks, chemicals, cables, staff to service it all,' Hill-Lewis explained. 'These costs remain no matter how much people consume, and so fixed costs must be met with a portion of fixed revenue.' He stressed the importance of fairness in how the city funds services. 'We cannot sustainably run a city where a R50 million household makes the same fixed contribution to water and sanitation infrastructure as a R500,000 household. Let's call that what it is, regressive taxation, and we oppose it.' On electricity pricing, Hill-Lewis confirmed that from July, the per-unit charge will decrease. 'This is made possible by discontinuing the 10% cost embedded in electricity prices that previously paid for city-wide cleaning.' Hill-Lewis dismissed reports of skyrocketing increases, stating, '97% of ratepayers won't experience the often-repeated +20% increase in monthly bills, and virtually no one will experience a 30% increase on any reasonable household consumption scenario, let alone the fabled 40% of a recent clickbait report.' He concluded by reaffirming the City's long-term vision: 'We are well on the path of raised infrastructure investment, together with ratepayers whom we most warmly thank for their contributions, we are truly on the path to building a city of hope for all.' IOL News Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
Eyewitness News
29-05-2025
- Business
- Eyewitness News
City of Cape Town introduces 'relief measures' after uproar over hikes
CAPE TOWN - Capetonians have until June 13 to share their input on the City's draft budget for 2025/26. The City of Cape Town has tabled expanded rates relief measures and other changes to the proposed 'Invested in Hope' budget. Compared to the March tabled draft budget, the city is extending the first R450,000 rates-free benefit to all homes up from R5 million to R7 million property valuation. Pensioners will also benefit from a discount in municipal rates by raising the upper qualifying limit from R22,000 to R27,000 monthly household income. Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis highlighted some of the other amendments made to the March draft budget. "We are significantly reducing city-wide cleaning charges for all residential properties under R20 million in value compared to the tabled March budget. We are also including a pensioner rebate for the city-wide cleaning tariff for the first time. We are also reducing the fixed water charges for property value bands between R1 million and R25 million," said Hill-Lewis. He added that the changes were made after studying inputs from concerned Capetonians. "It is most welcomed that the city and the public have had an honest conversation about the direction of the Mother City, which we are working here to build into a city of hope for all. Today's amendments include measures to reduce some of the tariff proposals made in March and further extend Cape Town's social relief net to even more homes and families," said Hill-Lewis.
The South African
28-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
City of Cape Town makes changes after 20% rate hike angers homeowners
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has announced significant changes to the City of Cape Town's 2025/26 budget, aimed at easing financial pressure on middle-income and pensioner households while maintaining the city's record-breaking R40 billion infrastructure investment. Speaking at a council meeting on Wednesday, 28 May, the mayor unveiled expanded rates relief measures, following public feedback on the original March budget draft. The revised budget will now undergo a second round of public comment from 28 May to 13 June. 'We listened carefully to Capetonians. The changes we're tabling preserve protection for families in lower-value homes while considerably softening tariffs for the middle class,' said Hill-Lewis. First R450 000 of property value now rates-free for homes up to R7 million (previously R5 million) for homes up to (previously R5 million) Pensioner income threshold raised to R27 000 per household/month , regardless of property value – the broadest support criteria in South Africa. to , regardless of property value – the broadest support criteria in South Africa. City-wide cleaning charges significantly reduced for homes under R20 million , with a new 100% pensioner rebate for homes under , with a new Lower fixed water charges for homes valued between R1 million and R25 million As a result, average monthly bill increases compared to the March budget draft will be significantly reduced: R1.2m home : up to 15% lower : up to R2m home : up to 24% lower : up to R3-R4m homes : up to 33% lower : up to R5-7m homes: up to 40% lower Electricity pricing will also drop across the board due to the removal of the 10% city-wide cleaning cost from electricity tariffs. Households using average or higher volumes of electricity and water may even see net reductions in their monthly bills. Hill-Lewis added that high-value properties with very low utility usage, often equipped with solar and borehole systems, may still experience increases over 20%. However, these households are encouraged to sell excess solar power back to the municipality in exchange for bill credits or cash. The Mayor emphasised that fixed charges remain essential to ensure fair contributions across the income spectrum and to fund Cape Town's long-term infrastructure needs. 'We can't run a city where a R50 million household contributes the same fixed amount as a R500 000 one. That's regressive taxation,' he said. The city is transitioning away from the unpopular 'pipe levy' system toward a property value-based fixed charge, with most homes under R2.5 million expected to pay less than under the old model. R40 billion infrastructure budget maintained Despite the economic pressure, Cape Town will maintain its R40 billion infrastructure investment, the largest municipal capital budget in South Africa, with 75% allocated to benefit lower-income households. Key investments include: Over 700 new law enforcement officers R4.5bn for MyCiTi expansion to Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain R2bn for water and sewer pipe upgrades R3.5bn for road repairs and upgrades R3.4bn for informal settlement upgrades R1bn for streetlight repairs R2bn for CRU rental upgrades R397m for public transport station upgrades R272m for informal trading infrastructure Hill-Lewis highlighted that despite Cape Town's higher average property values, the city still offers the lowest average municipal bills among South African metros, with better services and infrastructure. 'Here, residents pay lower bills and get a city that works. Even after adjusting for higher property values, Cape Town's bills remain lower than Johannesburg's across most property bands.' Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
