DA divided over W Cape drought levy

6 ‘There is money for water projects’

THE DA in the Western Cape is divided over a proposed water levy charge which will see Capetonians paying more to fund water augmentation projects.

DA provincial chairperson Anton Bredell sent a letter to the City manager, Achmat Ebrahim, objecting to the water levy, charging that it would be unfair to shift the burden of the loss of income to residents in the form of an additional tax.

DA Cape Metro regional chairman Grant Twigg said: “The City of Cape Town must prioritise their budget and find money to fund their water projects. We must also get the national government on board; it also has a duty to make sure there is water.

“The City feels that they have been asking citizens to save water and they have done that. We will not be burdening them with additional levies,” said Twigg.

The drought levy, which, according to the City is needed to cover the revenue shortfall of R1.7 billion, will see residential properties valued from R400 000 and commercial properties valued from R50 000 pay more for water.

A home valued at R600 000 would pay a monthly drought charge of R35, while a home valued at R50 million would pay R2 800. Commercial properties valued at R500 000 would pay R60 a month, while one valued at R500m would have to pay R56 000 monthly.

The DA chief whip in the City of Cape Town, Shaun August, said opposition received from members of the party did not represent the outcome of public participation.

He said the City would only be able to gauge the conclusive outcome once the process was complete and discussed by the party caucus.

There’s been a backlash against the levy from all major political parties in the Western Cape, including activist groups.

The ANC has called for the three spheres of government to work together, instead of implementing the levy charge.

ANC councillor Bheki Hadebe reiterated that intergovernmental relations between the three spheres of government and the City of Cape Town were important to resolve the water crisis.

“Water is life and it is a human rights issue, therefore people should not be charged for something that is outside their control. There have to be measures in place for all three spheres of government to work together, swallow pride and stop pointing fingers at one another,” said Hadebe.

He said the DA had to stop shifting the blame to the national government and instead work on tangible solutions.

Hadebe also joined other members of the party in their call to prioritise its budget to fund the City’s future water projects.

“The City has not spent its entire budget, there have been roll- overs annually within their budget. It clearly indicates that there is money. Millions are always rolled out. Millions were not spent; there is money to fund their water projects,” said Hadebe.

He also criticised the DA for changing its tune on opposing the proposed levy charge.

“A chairperson of the metro, who is also a councillor and part of the meeting which decided on the charge levy and voted in favour of it, Grant Twigg… he is now saying Capetonians must vote against the levy,” said Hadebe.

ACDP councillor Grant Haskin punched holes in the City’s cry of not having enough money to fund water projects.

He called on the City to exhaust all other funding sources before imposing this surcharge.

“In January 2017 the mayor confirmed the City had raised R245m from additional water revenue arising from the Level 2 water restrictions.

“Almost a year later and with Level 5 water restrictions, that figure ought to have doubled,” said Haskin.

He said the City’s Green Bond had raised R1bn in mid2017 which was meant to fund water augmentation projects and the City should use that money to fund its projects.

The City has given residents until Monday to comment on the proposed levy, after which it will be referred back to the council for debate.