CAPE TOWN The Cape Town Unicity tabled a record R10bn budget yesterday.

Although opposition parties labelled it "pro-poor", Mayor Nomaindia Mfeketo said it was tailored in the interests of the whole of Cape Town and not some sections of its community.

Housing, mostly infrastructure, has been allocated R334m, informal settlements R105m, community services R91m and transport projects R110m.

The R159m received from national government for poverty relief will fund various projects in informal settlements, including the supply of free basic water (R32m), the provision of free refuse removal and a clean-up service (R93m).

It will also sustain grants in keeping with the city's indigent policy (R20m).

Proposed capital expenditure is down 7% to R1,8bn, resulting in a 24% fall in the portion internally funded, normally through borrowing. This will save the city on interest payments. The operating budget has risen 9% to R8,4bn.

Paying for the running of the city will fall on the shoulders of ratepayers (43%) and the city's trading services (54%). This has resulted in an increase in rates (9%), water (9%), electricity (5%), sanitation (9%) and increased levies based on property values.

In poor areas, where there is low value and low consumption, there will be a decrease of 7% in costs, while in affluent areas increases will be as high as 14%.

"There will be a choice to bring down the bill through managing water and electricity consumption," said Mfeketo.

May 29 2003 07:06:49:000AM Chris van Gass Business Day 1st Edition