The City Council has passed Cape Town’s Adjustment Budget, tabled by Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis on 29 January, who described it as a key tool to keep major projects on track while maintaining financial sustainability.

The mid-year budget adjustment realigns spending with the pace and scope of projects already underway, shifting funds forward or back where necessary to ensure priority programmes are properly resourced.

Major focus on N2 safety project

A significant portion of the budget adjustments relates to the N2 Edge project, a wide-ranging safety and infrastructure intervention along the N2 highway near Cape Town International Airport.

The project includes the replacement of a dilapidated security barrier along the route, which the City says is intended to improve motorist safety and reduce pedestrian fatalities.

Beyond the barrier, the project will also involve upgrades to the road embankment, new pedestrian crossings, improved lighting, access control and landscaping, along with fire and flood mitigation measures. Secondary interventions are planned for adjacent communities, including safer recreational spaces, improved livestock control and steps to reduce illegal dumping.

The Adjustment Budget allocates R7 million this financial year for detailed design work, with a further R108 million in the 2027 financial year earmarked for the bulk of construction.

The project forms part of a broader safety strategy along the N2. The City has already deployed a dedicated unit of 45 Metro Police officers to patrol the corridor, supported by CCTV cameras with automatic number plate recognition technology.

Between September 2024 and mid-January this year, City officers assisted nearly 2,900 motorists along the route, many after incidents were picked up by camera operators.

The N2 stretch, described as a ‘hell-run’ has seen several incidents over the past few years of motorists being attacked.

Strandfontein Pavilion redevelopment ahead of schedule

Another project receiving additional funding is the redevelopment of the Strandfontein Pavilion on the False Bay coast, home to what the City describes as the largest tidal pool in the southern hemisphere.

The City has brought funding forward after progress moved faster than expected. An additional R11.3 million has been allocated this year to accelerate construction.

The mayor said public participation and a “cultural mapping” process helped shape the final design to reflect the heritage and memories associated with the site. Construction is expected to begin soon.

National Treasury boost and stormwater upgrades

The Adjustment Budget also includes a R401 million allocation from National Treasury, linked to reforms in the City’s trading services for water, sanitation, electricity and waste. This funding will support various infrastructure projects.

An additional R57 million has been set aside for stormwater upgrades in flood-prone communities, where smaller-scale projects can make a major difference during winter rains. Recent improvements in Samora Machel helped keep several blocks of homes dry last winter.

Investment in recreation, safety and early childhood development

The City is continuing its drive to upgrade public recreation facilities. Public swimming pools will receive R46 million over the next three years for improvements. The Community Services and Health Directorate also receives R30 million for maintenance and upgrades of public amenities.

In the Safety and Security directorate, R45 million is allocated to establish a new Joint Policing Centre in Parow, intended as a high-tech coordination hub for City enforcement agencies and SAPS. A further R16 million will go towards additional vehicles for Neighbourhood Safety Officers.

The budget also sets aside R5 million to assist early childhood development centres by covering certain City-related building and approval costs, with a focus on supporting operators in lower-income communities.

“Every line item matters”

Hill-Lewis told councillors the Adjustment Budget reflects the City’s broader goal of building a safer, more dignified and opportunity-driven Cape Town.

“These line items represent our investment in the future of this great city,” he said, adding that the budget aims not only to improve local services but also to demonstrate that effective, accountable governance is achievable.

READ THE MAYOR’S FULL COUNCIL SPEECH HERE.