| Council appoints a new City Manager | During the Council meeting yesterday, councillors approved the appointment of Lungelo Mbandazayo as the City’s new City Manager. | <span><p>During the Council meeting yesterday, councillors approved the appointment of Lungelo Mbandazayo as the City’s new City Manager.</p><p>The position became vacant after former City Manager Mr Achmat Ebrahim tendered his resignation on 12 January 2018. </p>
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<img class="responsive" src="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/cityassets/Media%20Centre/city%20manager.jpg" alt="" style="width:2142px;" /> </figure></span><p>Council has approved Mr Mbandazayo’s appointment for a five-year term. He has previously held positions in the City as the Director of Legal Services and as Executive Director of Corporate Services, and has been acting as City Manager since the beginning of the year.</p><p>The City Manager position was advertised nationally from 9 to 26 February 2018.</p><p>The selection process was in compliance with both the Municipal Systems Act and the Regulations on the Appointment and Conditions of Employment for Senior Managers. The Regulations prescribe detailed processes, procedures and timelines for the recruitment, appointment and conditions of employment for senior managers.</p><p>All the shortlisted candidates underwent a competency-based structured interview. The structured interview was conducted by a selection panel comprising myself, Mayoral Committee Member Raelene Arendse and an external specialist, Dr Musa Shezi. </p><p>The candidates for the position of City Manager underwent a competency-based assessment, reference checks and personal credential verification process. The process also required the City to check for any criminal and general disciplinary records. </p><p>The interview panel unanamously recommended to Council that Mr Mbandazayo be appointed. The recommendation was supported by all parties in Council.</p><p><br>End <br></p> | 2018-04-25T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| 2 July 2018 approved as market value date for next General Valuation | | <p>The General Valuation (GV) values approximately 870 000 registered properties in Cape Town for the purpose of billing fair rates to each property owner. </p><p>The City carefully calculates rates considering the affordability to ratepayers and the needs of the community for services that are not financed through tariffs. The money that is raised goes toward shared services such as fire services, the installation, maintenance and operation of traffic and street lights and providing services that stretch across neighbourhoods. It also helps us to help our most vulnerable residents. </p><p>As an example, we require R10 billion of rates income to ensure that our City operates efficiently and sufficiently. The valuation roll serves as the basis on which we calculate the tax rate which is referred to as the rate-in-the-Rand. We also calculate what rebates should be made to the vulnerable in our society and see how we can raise this in the most affordable manner for our ratepayers. </p><p>Valuations are based on actual property sales that have taken place in the open market around the date of valuation for each particular area. The attributes of different areas are considered when reviewing the market values.</p><p>The City chooses to conduct a GV every three years. By law, we are required to do so at least every four years but we have chosen a shorter timespan in an effort to mitigate major shocks to ratepayers. This is especially relevant considering the huge increase in property price growth in Cape Town. To avoid a rates shock due to these property price increases, it is best to ensure that valuations are kept up to date as far as possible.</p><p>The last general valuation in Cape Town was conducted in 2015 (and implemented on 1 July 2016). <br>The City’s Municipal Valuer is responsible for producing the GV Roll and is assisted by professional valuers, statistical analysts, data collectors, and support staff. </p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">The valuation staff collect and review sales that take place around the date of valuation.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">The sales data is used in the Computer-assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA).</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">CAMA is used by valuers to value properties in Cape Town, taking into consideration the various attributes and characteristics of various neighbourhoods within the metro. </div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">To ensure fairness, the GV Roll is audited by an independent body – the GV2015 was audited by the International Property Tax Institute.</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">For more information, please see <a href="https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Rates%20and%20valuations%20FAQs.pdf" target="_blank">https://resource.capetown.gov.za/documentcentre/Documents/Procedures%2c%20guidelines%20and%20regulations/Rates%20and%20valuations%20FAQs.pdf</a></div></li></ul><p><br><strong>End</strong> </p> | 2018-04-25T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Council speech by the City's Executive Mayor Patricia de Lille at the full council meeting on 25 April 2018 | To date the City has received more than 24 900 comments of which approximately 80% are water, electricity and rates tariff objections.
| <p>Mr Speaker, can we have a moment of silence for the Mother of our Nation, Mama Winnie Mandela; Zola Skweyiya; Cllr Henry Davids; real estate business leader Pam Golding; and others who lost their lives this past month. </p><p>Thank you.</p><p>Good morning, goeiedag, molweni, as-salaamu ailaykum, shalom.</p><p>I would like to give a special welcome the community representatives from Lavender Hill, Imizamo Yethu, Strand and Mfuleni in the gallery today.</p><p>I would like to start by addressing Council on a very important process which is currently underway - the public participation into the City’s draft budget. </p><p>There is currently just over a week left for residents to submit their comments and objections before the 4 May 2018 deadline and before the finalisation the budget. </p><p>To date the City has received more than 24 900 comments of which approximately 80% are water, electricity and rates tariff objections.</p><p>The public participation unit is currently capturing and categorising the comment for Council to consider. There are also hundreds of objections being posted on social media sites. </p><p>Also as part of the public participation process, the City has conducted more than 20 public focus group meetings between 10 and 19 April 2018. These meetings were held in subcouncils and were facilitated by the councillors assigned to that subcouncil. </p><p>The public comment period is vital since, in the past, the final budget has often changed from the draft version that was tabled based on comments received from the public. I want to encourage people to give input so that we can hear their concerns. </p><p>Mr Speaker, unfortunately for reasons known to all of us, there has been some dangerous politicking with the draft budget. </p><p>Some councillors have released and made statements about the draft budget undermining the legislative process and various processes which take place every year before the draft budget is tabled. </p><p>It is pertinent for me to address this in the chamber in front of all councillors to state that the draft budget is tabled by me as the Executive Mayor in terms of the law. </p><p>It is not ‘the Mayor’s’ or ‘De Lille’s’ draft budget as some have tried to term it to drive a certain narrative. I do not set the tariffs, these come from the relevant line departments such as the water or electricity department and are supported by Mayco members.</p><p>The draft budget and tariff increases must still go before subcouncils. </p><p>The draft budget also goes through the budget steering committee. The establishment of the budget steering committee is prescribed in the MFMA in section 4 of the Municipal Budget Reporting Regulations.</p><p>There were various meetings held about the draft budget between November and December which were attended by myself, the Deputy Mayor, Mayco members, the City Manager and Executive Directors. </p><p>These minutes are certainly available and I want these minutes to become part of the Council record.</p><p>The Mayco members and EDs sitting in this chamber must be honest and acknowledge that they were part of these meetings and that they have oversight over the directorates and the budget process so it is wrong to call this the Mayor’s draft budget alone. </p><p>I also want to remind councillors of the amendments to the Executive Mayor’s delegated powers on 19 January this year where, in terms of the budget processes and related matters, the Council designates the powers and functions exercised and performed by the Executive Mayor together with the members of the Mayoral Committee, and with the concurrence of a majority of the Mayoral Committee. </p><p>I want to include that resolution of Council as part of the minutes of this meeting. </p><p>The draft budget should therefore not be used as a political football.</p><p>In dealing with the draft budget, we are all meant to be diligent and honest in our work to drive progress with service delivery plans as set out in the Integrated Development Plan and our commitments made for this five-year term. </p><p>If councillors do not understand the draft budget, the onus is on them to ask for explanations but it is wrong to plead ignorance and say the Mayor set the draft budget and the tariffs. </p><p>Councillors must also take note of the underspend of various budgets and various departments.</p><p>I had a meeting with the Acting City Manager and all the Executive Directors about the underspend. </p><p>Our current capital spend at that stage was 47.3% compared to 53.1% last year. </p><p>If you add the underspend from New Water Programme then the actual capital underspend is 39.3%.</p><p>I have linked the underspend of the capital budget to the proposed tariff increase and called a special meeting with the Executive Management Team on 19 April 2018 to discuss the underspend. </p><p>I have requested that they reduce the 26.9% water tariff increase and asked that the City uses the unspent money of this financial year to cover the losses for the next financial year.</p><p>I am waiting for a report from the City Manager and the Chief Financial Officer about how much the reduction in the tariff will be. </p><p>Mr Speaker, speaking of the draft budget, our continued commitment to pro-poor spending and helping those who need it most is clear in the draft budget.</p><p>With more than R3 billion set aside for indigent relief with rates and other rebates, we have embarked on a campaign to encourage all qualifying beneficiaries to apply. </p><p>As a caring City, we are encouraging the most vulnerable in our society to make use of the financial assistance on offer.</p><p>Many residents are struggling to cope and are not aware that there is help available to them.</p><p>At the end of March there were only around 3 200 property owners registered on the City’s Indigent Register.</p><p>We believe there are many more property owners who are eligible and the aim of this campaign is to increase awareness and encourage more applications. </p><p>Everyone who meets the criteria to register as an indigent should do so, because every bit of help makes a difference especially during these tough economic times.</p><p>Mr Speaker, while we offer help to the most vulnerable, a key objective is also to build an opportunity City and contribute to economic growth and job creation. </p><p>Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting one of the City’s 22 job centres.</p><p>These centres have been established to train and connect job seekers with employers across the metro.</p><p>In December the City embarked on its first outcomes-based workforce development programme to improve residents’ access to employment opportunities. </p><p>Lulaway runs the three-year programme on behalf of the City.</p><p>The company has been appointed to train job seekers by identifying, preparing and placing them in education, training and ultimately securing permanent work opportunities. These employment opportunities must be with big business and SMMEs across the city.</p><p>Over the next three years the City’s programme will run skills assessments of 30 000 unemployed residents, provide work-readiness skills training to 6 000 participants, and place 4 050 candidates in job opportunities. </p><p>This programme speaks to our Organisational Development and Transformation Plan’s goals to enhance economic inclusion and provide access to opportunities.</p><p>When speaking to some of the job seekers yesterday I was inspired by the hope they had for the future. </p><p>By instilling hope in our young people we can be sure that they will continue the work of building a more prosperous city.</p><p>Mr Speaker, in our goal to build a more prosperous city, in March 2016, Council adopted the Transit Orientated Development (TOD) strategic framework.</p><p>The TOD strategic framework signaled a new approach to integrated spatial and transport planning to accelerate our efforts to eradicate the legacy of apartheid spatial planning and assist us in building a more equitable and inclusive city.</p><p>The TOD policy document prescribes how new developments across Cape Town should happen and how existing public infrastructure should be transformed to deal with apartheid spatial inequality, the high cost of public transport, and urbanisation while also stimulating economic growth.</p><p>The City has identified five projects in Bellville, Philippi East, Athlone, Paardevlei, and the Cape Town central business district (CBD) where we will either invest in the improvement of existing public transport infrastructure or provide new public transport infrastructure.</p><p>The TOD projects’ goals are to ignite urban renewal, economic growth, and job creation in these areas. The investment will take place over the next five years using the TOD principles.</p><p>In the majority of these projects the City will make the first significant investment which must serve as a catalyst for further investment and development by the private sector. </p><p>I would like to update Council on the progress of the five TOD projects.</p><p>In terms of the Philippi project, this is currently in the concept/feasibility stage and is progressing according to plan. The baseline report, the project plan and a draft business case report have all been completed. The draft terms of reference for the professional team has also been completed. </p><p>The Bellville project is progressing according to plan with the formulation of a transportation-based structuring plan for the greater Bellville node. This is to be finalized by June 2018 and will ensure that the Public Transport Interchange including the rail station will be incorporated in the overall development proposals.</p><p>On the Athlone Power Station site, the technical draft development framework and Transport Impact Assessment is complete and has been submitted for City administration comment. The line department comments will be incorporated into the draft development framework before finalisation for public comment.</p><p>With the Paardevlei TOD project, the final environmental impact report for Precinct 2 is being finalized for submission to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning. Professional services have been appointed to prepare a masterplan for the greater site as well as for the precinct.</p><p>On the Foreshore Freeway project, the City’s Executive Management Team has been briefed and the City is currently processing objections to the announcement of the qualifying bidder (MDA).</p><p>Mr Speaker, these projects are set to bring great benefit to our residents linking them to economic and housing opportunities that are located close to public transport. Our goal is to create a compact and well-connected city and get rid of apartheid spatial planning that has put so many people far away from opportunities. </p><p>Mr Speaker, as we know, there have been numerous protests over housing and land invasions in various communities. </p><p>Over the past three months I have held more than 25 community engagements with community leaders from areas including Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Hanover Park, Philippi, Vrygrond, Hangberg, Langa and Imizamo Yethu. </p><p>Through these direct engagements with communities we have managed to unblock and ensure accelerated housing delivery and provision of basic services to the most vulnerable. </p><p>In Strand we have been able to ensure the electrification of nine informal settlements of which 3 are to be electrified in this financial year. We are also overseeing the Morkel’s Cottage project yielding 562 housing opportunities. </p><p>In Langa we have ensured that a long-term plan for the hostels transformation is in place and we will drive the project to replace the old sewer line that is to be upgraded within the next few weeks. </p><p>Through our engagements in Nkanini in Khayelitsha we have unblocked a project which will yield more than 8 000 serviced sites. </p><p>In terms of land invasions in Philippi, Gugulethu and Vrygrond, my office has assisted City officials to stabilise these volatile situations and we have initiated forums to hold further engagements to address the issues in these communities. </p><p>I want to appeal to councillors to strengthen their relationships with elected community structures and to have regular meetings about issues and developments in their wards so that we avoid tensions boiling over and causing unnecessary disruptions to the broader community.</p><p>Mr Speaker, finally, I would like to update Council on the process that has been followed in the review of the Municipal Spatial Development Framework (MSDF) before Council today.</p><p>The MSDF team worked closely with the City’s Public Participation Unit and area managers to develop an extensive public commenting period and approach.</p><p>The MSDF document was available online; at all libraries and subcouncil offices allowing for comments to be submitted either online or in hard copy. </p><p>A series of engagements were designed to cater specifically for the needs and interests of different stakeholders such as the business fraternity, the broader public sector, built environment practitioners and local residents. </p><p>The comments that were received highlighted concerns from stakeholders and, in some cases, challenged the thinking and assisted in improving and refining our final draft product. </p><p>One significant change that was made as a direct result of the comments received from the citizens of Cape Town relates to the increased protection afforded to the remainder of the Philippi Horticultural Area (PHA). </p><p>We were also encouraged by the support received for the private and public sector. </p><p>The South African Association of Consulting Professional Planners welcomed the simplified spatial transformation areas.</p><p>The Provincial Department of Environment Affairs and Development Planning also recognized the MSDF’s dedication towards the spatial transformation agenda through the introduction of spatial transformation areas and their associated investment rationale as a unique approach to growth management. </p><p>They also considered the draft to be compliant with the prevailing legislative requirements.</p><p>Mr Speaker, we would like to thank all stakeholders for their input into this important document which will guide us to realise a more inclusive city with greater access to opportunities.</p><p>Thank you, baie dankie, enkosi.</p><p><br><strong>End </strong></p> | 2018-04-24T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
| Cut in City’s USDG funding impacts roads, housing projects | National Treasury’s unilateral decision to cut the City’s Urban Settlement Development Grant (USDG) funding by R176 million for the current financial year, which comes to an end on 30 June 2018 | <p>I strongly disapprove of the National Treasury’s unilateral decision to cut the City’s Urban Settlement Development Grant (USDG) funding by R176 million for the current financial year, which comes to an end on 30 June 2018. </p><p>The cut will have a knock-on effect on several of the projects that the Transport and Urban Development Authority (TDA) is currently implementing across Cape Town. It will hamper our efforts to provide much-needed infrastructure improvements to those in need, and has forced us to postpone some of our projects.</p><p>I want to state categorically that the reduction in our USDG funding has nothing to do with the TDA’s spending performance to date. </p><p>The National Government has made this decision a month before the start of the current financial year:</p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">We were informed in June 2017 already of National Government’s intention of withholding R278 million of our USDG allocation for the current financial year which commenced on 1 July 2017</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">In November 2017 we received another notification that R175,8 million of our USDG funding will be withheld</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">Then, on 12 March 2018, we received written confirmation that our USDG funding will be cut by R176 million</div></li></ul><p>The USDG funding is used to provide bulk infrastructure for services – that is water, electricity, and sanitation, as well as roads – for integrated human settlement developments. USDG funding is vital to the City’s efforts in addressing our housing deficit and the upgrading of informal settlements.</p><p>Given the cut, and as is evident from the TDA’s adjustments budget for 2017/18, we had to postpone some of the planned projects to future years, or had to slow down work on projects that are currently underway.</p><p>To summarise, the TDA’s USDG funding for 2017/18 has been reduced from R1 666 224 038 to R1 562 428 134, amounting to a reduction of R103 795 904 or 6,2%. The cut has an impact on our current budget for:</p><ul><li><div style="text-align:left;">asset management and maintenance – a reduction of R989 385</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">the rehabilitation of roads and stormwater infrastructure, and the provision of new roads for housing developments – a reduction of R55,7 million; and</div></li><li><div style="text-align:left;">the planning and implementation of housing projects – a reduction of R47 million </div></li></ul><p>Despite these cuts, we will not cancel any USDG-funded project.</p><p>We remain committed to using our USDG funding allocation for the purpose it was intended – to construct the infrastructure needed to improve the quality of life of Cape Town’s poorest households.</p><p><br><strong>End</strong></p> | 2018-04-24T22:00:00Z | | | | | | | 1 | | | |
