Public invited to online briefing about budget priorities for cleaner vleis, resilient coastline, upgrade of public places
23 July 2025
The City of Cape Town’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews, is inviting residents, stakeholders, and interested parties to an online briefing session about the directorate’s budget priorities for the current financial year. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage City officials and ask questions.
The City of Cape Town’s Invested in Hope Budget was approved by Council last month.
The Spatial Planning and Environment (SPE) Directorate’s budget in particular, encapsulates the City’s response to the implications of climate change, population growth, in-migration, surge in informality, and the need to protect our finite natural resources.
All interested and affected parties, and residents in particular, are encouraged to attend the online briefing session to find out how the planned expenditure intends to benefit communities and address ongoing challenges.
The details are as follows:
Meeting
ID: 352 711 271 454
Passcode:
vZqHmj
The SPE budget priorities include the following:
Improving the water quality of our vleis
Strengthening the resilience of our 307km long coastline against the impact of climate change and rising sea levels
Upgrades to our nature reserves that offer a welcome escape and educational opportunities to communities across the city
Curbing the spread of the invasive Polyphagous Shothole Borer Beetle
Urban regeneration projects in vulnerable communities and neglected central districts
Finalising key precinct development plans to stimulate economic growth
Managing rapid urbanisation through spatial policies; and
Implementing the revised and recently approved Municipal Planning By-law that regulates land use and development in Cape Town
‘The City’s Spatial Planning and Environment Directorate is responsible for a coastline covering 307km; to preserve our unique and world renowned biodiversity, among which our 21 nature reserves and wetlands; to sustainably manage special rating areas and those areas in need of urban regeneration; and finally, to assess development and building plan applications while realising the spatial goals as determined by the City’s Integrated Development Plan and Municipal Spatial Development Framework. Economic growth, socio-economic challenges, and spatial transformation are key priorities. The budget demonstrates our commitment to deliver on these, and I encourage residents to attend this online briefing to find out more,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning and Environment, Alderman Eddie Andrews.
The directorate’s capital budget for the next three financial years amounts to just over R1,1 billion; and the operational budget for the current financial year is R1,9 billion.
Major projects include the following, among others:
R338 million to improve the resilience of our coastline with major upgrades of defence structures, including the seawalls at Strand, Table View, and Sea Point; and upgrades of the beachfront in Muizenberg, including a new seawall
R198 million for the dredging of our vleis, including Zeekoevlei and Milnerton Lagoon, and the lowering of the weir at Zeekoevlei
R156 million for fencing and upgrades at City nature reserves
R130 million for improvements to the visitor education centres at Bracken, Harmony Flats, the Westlake Conservation Centre and False Bay overnight facilities. The construction of a new multipurpose facility at the Harmony Flats Nature Reserve will serve the communities of Gustrow, Dennehof, Rusthof and Llwandle
R128 million for upgrades at public places, among which are the Parow station arcade, station precinct in Salt River, Kruskal Avenue in the Bellville CBD, and Chapel Street in District Six
R34 million for finalising upgrades to the Philippi Fresh Produce Market. Once done, the new Agri-hub will facilitate agri-business opportunities and associated training and business development services
The operational budget prioritises a number of projects for the current financial year, amongst which:
Job creation opportunities: the Kader Asmal Programme and alien invasive plant clearing projects (R33 million); and Community Ambassador Programme (R21,2 million)
An additional R12,6 million for preventative measures in curbing the spread of the invasive borer beetle pest; this budget includes the appointment of permanent staff
R15 million for the Shark Spotters NPO who is assisting with baboon management on the South Peninsula
R27 million for urban regeneration projects
R21 million for repairs and maintenance at nature reserves, coastal infrastructure, and dune rehabilitation projects
• R65 million for security at nature reserves and coastal assets
R5 million for the preservation of heritage assets across the city, and R1,9 million for the firebreaks maintenance programme
End
Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
