Latest news with #Hill-Lewis
Eyewitness News
5 hours ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
CoCT invested R9.5 billion in infrastructure in 24/25 financial year, says Hill-Lewis
CAPE TOWN - Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis said the city had invested R9.5 billion in infrastructure in the 2024/2025 financial year, an all-time record for a South African metro. Hill-Lewis said that the money spent represented 92 percent of its full infrastructure budget. The mayor addressed the city council on Wednesday, saying that the only way for Cape Town to avoid some of the crises in other South African cities was to invest in infrastructure at a higher level. "It's one thing to announce new record infrastructure budgets every year, in our quest to invest in a better city, but those records mean little if the budgets just stay as numbers on a page. They actually have to be spent." Hill-Lewis told council that spending the allocated budget was no easy task. "I'm very pleased to let you know that our city spent 92.3 percent of our capital budget ... that is R9.5 billion." The mayor said that the safety and security directorate had the best percentage, with 99 percent of its R472 million budget spent.
Time Out
6 hours ago
- Time Out
How Safe is Cape Town? City records R9.5bn spend on infrastructure, safety and security
Cape Town has just shattered records for infrastructure investment - and with it, the city is signalling a bold stance on a question that lingers for many locals and visitors alike: Just how safe is Cape Town? In his 30 July address to City Council, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announced that Cape Town invested R9.5 billion in infrastructure in the 2024/25 financial year — the most ever spent by a South African metro. With 92% of the capital budget delivered, it's a rare feat in South Africa's current municipal landscape. And at the heart of this record spending? Safety and Security. Reclaiming the city, street by street South Africa is often perceived as a risky travel destination, with concerns about violent crime and safety dominating international headlines, despite significant variation in actual risk across regions and cities. With 99.7% of its R472 million capital budget spent, the City's Safety and Security Directorate was the year's top performer, directing funds toward upgraded fire stations, new vehicles, metro police training facilities, and advanced safety tech like CCTV, bodycams and digital systems. 'This performance really speaks to their intent to do whatever it takes to make our city safer and take back our neighbourhoods from criminals,' said Mayor Hill-Lewis. There has been a strategic push to make security more visible and responsive, with over 700 new municipal police officers - including ward-based officers and specialised teams to protect infrastructure and service delivery workers planned under the upcoming 2025/26 'Invested in Hope' budget. Broader Crime Trends & Safety Interventions With the City's substantial investment in safety and security, the key question remains: has it made Cape Town's streets any safer? Encouragingly, Western Cape crime statistics for the third quarter of 2024/2025 show a notable decline across several key categories Overall murder rate: Dropped 8% in Q3 of 2024/25, though absolute numbers remain high (1,095 vs 1,198 cases year-on-year). Significant decreases in murder rates were reported in Gugulethu, Khayelitsha and Nyanga. In the Cape Town CBD, the Central City Improvement District (CCID) reported over a 50% drop in robbery, theft, and shoplifting between November and January, thanks to visible patrols by 323 Public Safety Officers complemented by law enforcement operations. Other notable crime decreases included: - 12% decrease in attempted murder - 5% decrease in sexual offences - 7% decrease in common robbery - 14% decrease in carjacking Investing in the basics that make cities safer While safety tech and boots on the ground are critical, Cape Town's broader investment strategy reflects an understanding that infrastructure is safety. A reliable water system, working streetlights, unclogged drains and efficient public transport all create an environment where communities can thrive and crime struggles to take root. Highlights from the infrastructure investment include: R4 billion spent by Water & Sanitation, with 95% of budget executed — including pipe replacements, pump station upgrades and future drought-proofing measures. R3.5 billion earmarked for road upgrades and congestion relief in the coming years. R1 billion set aside for streetlight repair and upgrades — a key deterrent to crime, particularly in vulnerable areas. R4.5 billion committed to the MyCiTi South-East Corridor, linking Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain to Wynberg/Claremont. R3.4 billion for informal settlement upgrades, and R2 billion for Community Residential Unit (CRU) improvements. 'We are building Cape Town, project by project, into a city of hope,' said Hill-Lewis. 'One with a growing economy that is able to absorb many more people into work.' Cape Town's record-breaking performance comes at a time when many other South African metros are buckling and eroding public trust. While challenges remain, especially in high-crime neighbourhoods and informal settlements, the trend is clear: Cape Town is not just talking safety; it's building it. Safety Tips for Travellers to Cape Town Cape Town is a vibrant, world-class destination, but like many global cities, it's not immune to crime. Here are a few practical tips to help you stay safe and street-smart during your next visit. Stay alert in busy or crowded areas Cape Town's CBD and popular tourist zones (such as Long Street, Greenmarket Square, and transport hubs) can attract pickpockets and opportunistic thieves, especially in crowded conditions. Keep your belongings close, zipped up, and ideally in front of you. Don't display valuables openly Cell‑phone snatching is a common petty crime, often carried out by quick grab-and-run tactics on sidewalks or near intersections. Avoid walking with your phone out or holding it loosely, particularly in quieter or unfamiliar areas. Theft from vehicles is a well-known issue, including in parts of the inner city, mountain hike parking areas, and beachfront spots. Always lock your car and never leave bags, jackets, or chargers in plain sight - even for a quick stop. Avoid walking alone at night. Use ride-hailing apps like Uber, especially after dark, and plan your route in advance to steer clear of less secure areas. Stay aware, not afraid While Cape Town has its share of challenges, the risk of petty crime is similar to that in many major cities worldwide. Most visits are incident-free, especially when travellers exercise common sense, avoid high-risk areas, and stay informed through local advice or hotel staff.
TimesLIVE
19-07-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Hundreds bid farewell to ‘daughter of District Six' Theresa Solomon
Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis offered his condolences to Solomon's family and friends. He was a young boy when she served her term as mayor. Though he had never met her, Hill-Lewis said, many people spoke highly of her and she had shown courageous leadership as a mayor in a young democracy. 'I knew not only her professional history — her civic activism of the '70s and '80s, her involvement in the UDF, her entry into formal politics as an ANC candidate in 1994, her terms as deputy mayor and mayor of Cape Town and her diplomatic career afterwards — I also knew what people said about her, and how she was regarded in her community. 'This combination of principled toughness coupled with a motherly care and empathy made her a force for good in her community, and for the city of Cape Town. She led this city during a period when no-one had any certainty where our country was headed, and whether our democratic miracle would last. 'I think people forget how new and strange that time was for everyone in South Africa, and how challenging it must've been to steer a metro of this size and complexity through those waters,' Hill-Lewis said. A police parade was held after the service and the band played Abide By Me before the coffin was carried into the hearse. President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a special provincial category two funeral and instructed that the national flag fly at half-mast in the Western Cape on Saturday. After the service, Mbalula told the media that Solomon was a servant leader. 'She was an example of good governance and we are very proud of that,' he said.
The South African
18-07-2025
- Business
- The South African
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis slams Cape Town's wealthy property owners
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has launched a strong defence of the city's newly implemented municipal charge reforms, following a legal challenge by the South African Property Owners Association (SAPOA), which represents some of the country's wealthiest commercial real estate stakeholders. SAPOA has taken the City of Cape Town to the High Court, seeking a review of a key feature in the City's 2025/26 'Invested in Hope' budget: the decision to link fixed municipal service charges – such as for water and electricity infrastructure – to property value rather than applying flat rates across the board. Hill-Lewis has criticised SAPOA's position, stating that its objection to the new charge model is an attempt by large-scale property owners to avoid paying their fair share. 'They argue that the biggest property owners should pay the same as low-income families. That is simply regressive and patently unfair,' said Hill-Lewis. The mayor emphasised that the policy change was designed to protect lower-income households, particularly homes valued below R2.5 million, while ensuring that higher-value properties contribute more equitably to maintaining the city's public infrastructure. The city scrapped its old 'pipe levy' model, which based charges on the size of a property's water connection – a system Hill-Lewis said unfairly charged small homes and luxury mansions the same fixed fees. 'Our new model aligns charges with the value of the property, which is a more accurate reflection of a household's or business's ability to pay,' he said. The change supports Cape Town's planned R40 billion infrastructure investment over the next three years, which the city says is necessary to maintain and expand vital services across all communities. SAPOA argues that the policy is legally questionable and will place undue pressure on commercial property owners and investors. The association is seeking a court ruling to overturn the implementation of the value-based charge system. However, Hill-Lewis dismissed SAPOA's court bid as an attempt to 'go back to a system where ordinary families subsidise the wealthiest portfolio holders in the country.' The mayor also defended the principle of cross-subsidisation, stating that all residents – especially those with the financial means – have a responsibility to support equitable infrastructure development. 'Even households with solar panels or boreholes rely on the City's infrastructure in emergencies. Fixed infrastructure costs exist whether people consume services or not.' He explained that a flat charge, as SAPOA prefers, would disproportionately affect poorer households, taking up a much larger percentage of their income compared to wealthier residents. Hill-Lewis said the city had consulted with SAPOA and other stakeholders throughout the budgeting process. While SAPOA acknowledged the city's infrastructure needs, it failed to offer any workable alternative to the current approach. The city maintains that linking charges to property values is both legally sound and socially responsible, and plans to defend the policy in court. 'Cape Town must remain a city of hope,' Hill-Lewis concluded. 'To do that, everyone must contribute fairly to the systems that serve us all.' The High Court is expected to hear the matter in the coming weeks. If SAPOA succeeds, the ruling could set a precedent for how municipalities across South Africa structure their service charges in the future. 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.
IOL News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
City spends R28 million on foreign national accommodation as eviction plans unfold
Foreign nationals inside Wingfield tent. Image: Ian Landsberg Documents citing the eviction of foreign nationals from Wingfield Tent in Kensington and Paint the City in Bellville have revealed that its upkeep has cost state organs, including the City and the Department of Home Affairs, R28 million in maintenance since its inception. In an affidavit by Cape Town mayor, Geordin Hill Lewis, revealed that it cost the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and other government departments over R400 000 per month for the running cost of Wingfield Tent and over R240 000 per month for Paint the City. In the court documents shared with Cape Argus, spreadsheets, including the eviction application, details of the foreign nationals' places of residency and other particulars were clarified. 'I attach hereto FA23' an excel spreadsheet. Demonstrating the total costs that have been incurred by the DHA to date. As appears therefrom an amount of approximately R28 m has been expended by the state in accommodating the respondents,' said Hill-Lewis via his affidavit. 'The City sourced, supplied and initially paid for the rental of the tent at the Wingfield site. This was done on an expedited and urgent basis during April 2020. 'The City thereafter received a negative audit finding by the Auditor General regarding its expenditure to its expenditure at Wingfield. The expenditure was objectionable for two reasons.. 'To date an amount of over R15 million has been expended by the DHA on the cost of Wingfield alone. The current monthly spend at Wingfield is at least R424 905.00.' He suggested that rental for the Wingfield tent was R356 500.00, mobile toilets R31 500 and generator and fuel cost 36 905.00. Hill-Lewis said in Paint the City, the rental of the tent was R221 829.90 per month and mobile toilets and cleaning cost R26 946 60. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ 'I am advised by the DHA that to date an amount of R7 million has been expended by the DHA on the costs of Paint City property and which amount continues to increase by at least R248 773.70 per month,' he stated The City in collaboration with the City, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson and Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber made an eviction application for the occupants of the tents. According to the documents, respondents (the occupants), are to be evicted within 30 days of the court's order and if they do not vacate, the Sheriff and police will be authorized to remove them and any structures they occupy. The responding parties have fifteen days to file answering affidavits after notifying their intention to oppose and failure to respond will result in the application being granted without opposition on October 8. The documents further outline that Paint the City has 340 individuals whose gender distribution are predominantly male and female individuals, with nationalities primarily from Burundi, Congo, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the site currently has 150 documented and 190 undocumented. Paint City measures approximately 29,000 m² and has a marquee tent of 960 m² while Wingfield measures 133,616 m² and has a marquee tent of 2,000 m² and both properties were initially used for emergency accommodation during the COVID-19 lockdown. The court document cites that the occupation has led to illegal taxi ranks and other unauthorised structures around the properties. Approximately 160 individuals occupy the Wingfield site, while around 200 are at Paint City and the living conditions are poor, with issues related to hygiene and safe. Earlier this month, the refugees said the plans to evict them were against their human rights and that they continued to live in squalor and that their tent was damaged, in what they believed was an attack. The DHA did not respond to Cape Argus queries. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus
