Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis delivers City of Hope budget during during virtual council meeting.
While several political parties opposed the City of Hope Budget – said to include a R40 billion investment in basic infrastructure over the next three years – it was approved, with the DA's majority in council securing its adoption.
The council adopted the R87.79bn budget for the financial year 2026/27 during a virtual special meeting on Monday.
Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis presented the budget, which is "intact for the next three years while offering the widest rates relief and the lowest monthly bills among SA’s cities".
According to Hill-Lewis, relief measures were in place to protect households, including raising the rates-free property value threshold to R620 000, up from R450 000, for homes valued up to R8 million.
