The City of Cape Town has earmarked R852 million over the medium term for the provision of services to backyarders and for upgrades to informal settlements.

The proposed amount is reflected in the City’s Draft Budget which is currently open for public participation.

R713 million has been set aside to be spent by the City’s Informal Settlements and Backyarder Department on backyarder service provision and the informal settlements upgrade programme over the next three years. At the same time, R150 million is expected to be spent on electricity services to backyard dwellers by the City’s Electricity Services Department.

“The proposed spend is part of the continuing shift that is occurring in the human settlements sphere. The delivery model where government is the sole provider of housing opportunities, which consist mostly of costly formal housing characterised by lengthy processes, is unsustainable,” says Xanthea Limberg, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Informal Settlements, Water and Waste Services; and Energy.

The public Participation Process for the City’s Draft Budget for 2018/19 ends on 4 May 201 and the City has invited interested parties to submit their comment on the Draft Budget via the online portal or other channels.