Cape Town calls on Finance Minister not to cut pro-poor grant funding
19 February 2024
‘I'm calling on the Finance Minister to protect grant-funding and equitable share allocations to municipalities over the next three years.
‘We strongly object to any further anti-poor budget cuts to national funding, which would mean even deeper cuts for Cape Town's pro-poor spending priorities - particularly for basic services and housing.
‘Rather than cutting spending that actually delivers to the poor, cuts should come from government departments that serve no meaningful purpose. There is also billions in unnecessary funding going towards Ministerial VIP security, estimated to be in excess of R3 billion.
‘We have shown in Cape Town that, even in tough financial conditions, it is possible to make budget choices that are progressive, pro-poor and pro-growth. This is what we expect from the Finance Minister’s speech on Wednesday,’ said Mayor Hill-Lewis.