Comments on Budget 2026 and PROPOSAL TO MITIGATE GENTRIFICATION

To whom it may concern

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed budget.

The budget is in my view very positive and should lead to the improvement of living standards for most Cape Town residents.

The only problem that I would wish to highlight is that the budget does not address the increasing and unsustainable increased financial burden of the Ratepayers in the City.

The statement that 60% of ratepayers will pay less rates means that 40% (significant portion) will be paying substantially more rates.

The city needs, in my view, to take cognisance of the difference between Wealth and Affordability.

There exists a group of ratepayers in the City that are seen by the city as being Wealthy because they own property of significant value, but the city does not recognise that some of these ratepayers can no longer Afford to pay the skyrocketing increased monthly Municipal bill.

The argument that has been made by certain City officials that if the ratepayer cannot afford the increases, then they should sell their property and move to a more affordable property is callous and unreasonable. It is unreasonable to treat some of these ratepayers, (specifically the elderly) in this manner as the increased monthly bills are not the result of any actions taken by these ratepayers, but rather the result of Gentrification in Cape Town.

As a concerned ratepayer, I have therefore developed a rough proposal to mitigate the effect of Gentrification on such ratepayers as attached.

Please ensure the relevant officials and Councillors have sight of this document and provide me with feedback on whatever consideration is given to the ideas contained therein

Should you require further information or have any queries regarding the proposal, please contact me directly.

Best Regards

Jon Lijnes Pr. Eng. BSc. Civ Eng. (UCT) WISA (Fellow)

Cell: (27) (82) 577 3023

URL: www.Jonlijnes.co.za

Erf 661 Chapmans Peak

Noordhoek

7979

Cape Town

South Africa