Stellenbosch residents are being invited to have their say on how the municipality spends its R3.7 billion budget for the 2026/27 financial year.
This year’s budget is up by 7.95% from the previous year’s one of R3.4 billion.
The Stellenbosch Municipality has opened the public participation for 4th review of the 5th generation Integrated Development Plan (IDP) and draft budget. The IDP is a five-year strategic framework that outlines infrastructure projects, budget allocation, and developmental goals for the municipality. This is the fifth Stellenbosch IDP, for the five-year period of 2022 to 2027; it opened on 7 April and will close on 28 April.
Stellenbosch Municipality opened a 22-day period for the residents to comment on the 4th review of the 5th generation IDP and draft budget. The public participation opened on 7 April and will close on 28 April. PHOTO: Kwanda Mkhonto
According to section 34 (a) (i) of the Municipal Systems Act, 2000: the municipal council “must review its integrated development plan” annually. Through public participation, residents of Stellenbosch have an opportunity to ask about, and comment on the IDP, and draft budget before the closing date.
The R3.7 billion budget the municipality has proposed is equivalent to it spending approximately R10 million per day. The budget is spent on service delivery, education, human settlements, and infrastructure, among other things.
The municipality has been visiting different communities in Stellenbosch to provide public presentations, and help desks for residents to ask questions and make comments, about issues the municipality should prioritise in their communities.
Alternative platforms to comment, include: electronic form, WhatsApp, email, an IDP written submission form available at all libraries and ward offices during office hours. The full schedule has all the direct contact details and rollout strategy.
The director for community and protection services at Stellenbosch Municipality, Gary Boshoff, said residents have an opportunity to contribute to the budget before it is finalised. “Before we compile the final budget, each and every one of those [inputs] are taken into account and considered,” he said.
The director of Community and Protection Services at Stellenbosch Municipality, Gary Boshoff, presents the IDP and budget at a public participation session at Kayamandi Corridor on Monday 13 April. PHOTO: Kwanda Mkhonto
The presentations covered tariff and property rate increases, which are the town’s main revenue streams. The tariffs and rates with their respective percentage increases are: electricity at 10.71%, water at 5.50%, sanitation at 6%, and refuse removal at 6%. Mr Boshoff said, the proposed electricity tariff increase is subject to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (NERSA) approval.
The municipality visited Kayamandi and Cloetesville on 13 April where Ward 14 resident Abongile Quthu, said the presentation was not tailored to the residents of Kayamandi. “This is a generic presentation,” Quthu said. Quthu, one of the 38 community members who attended the meeting, added that the residents’ turnout was low and that the municipality should be concerned.
Stellenbosch Municipality’s help desk in Kayamandi Corridor, where the IDP and budget public participation meeting was held for residents to ask questions, and give their comments. PHOTO: Kwanda Mkhonto
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) regional secretary for Stellenbosch, Phiwokuhle Qabaka who attended the meeting in Kayamandi on 13 April, did not like how the presentation was conducted. “I don’t like how they did public participation, it’s very limiting,” she said, adding that she believes in an open platform for questions and answers.
She also said it is important for the residents to participate. “I do also believe it’s very important to have our say as communities,” she said.
Ward 6 Democratic Alliance councillor, Nateshia Mcombring, had a different view, noting that she supports the public participation process because residents can raise the issues, complaints, and challenges directly with the municipality.
The open platform for questions and answers, she said, “will not work” because when “community members […] ask [presenting] officials a question, then it changes the whole format of the IDP process”.
On 14 April, the municipality visited Ida’s Valley and Jamestown. At the Ida’s Valley meeting, Ward 6 resident Carmen Abrahams, who is a retiree and lives in a backyard dwelling, said she attended to inquire about housing.
Stellenbosch Municipality’s help desk in Ida’s Valley at St Ida’s Primary School Hall, where the IDP and budget public participation meeting was held for residents to ask questions, and put their comments. PHOTO: Kwanda Mkhonto
Another resident from Ward 6, Sam Block, liked the public participation. “I think it’s a great initiative firstly from the municipality […] this is a platform where we can bring different inputs,” he said. Block said he was expecting a public dialogue from the municipality and the residents.
“You go to a certain table and lay your concerns. It’s not like the community speaks together […] I think one voice from the community says a lot,” he said.
So far the municipality has had meetings in Franschhoek, Kylemore, Stellenbosch Central, Klapmuts, Kayamandi, Cloetesville, Ida’s Valley and Jamestown. The last in-person presentation will be the stakeholder engagement on 21 April at Stellenbosch Town Hall.
SMF News attended 2 of the 8 meetings. SMF News will attend the stakeholder meeting on 21 April, in Stellenbosch Central, which is the final public meeting before the 28 April deadline.
SMF News contacted the Stellenbosch Municipality, but they did not respond by time of publication.