Budget report grossly inaccurate

THE front-page lead “De Lille forbids budget debate” (Cape Argus, March 30, 2017) refers.

The report and headline is grossly inaccurate. The mayor did not “forbid” or “shut down” any debate. The Speaker presides over the council meeting, the mayor does not determine or make rulings on what can and cannot happen. The mayor and the council meeting followed the process prescribed by legislation to table the draft budget to seek permission from council to commence the public-participation process on this draft document.

An extensive engagement process has therefore ensued. The draft budget is tabled by the mayor for public input first as the proposals and content of the draft budget are not final until the public-participation process has been concluded. Once the process is completed, it is then taken to council for debate and adoption.

All councillors will have ample opportunity in the various structures of council and in their wards and the communities they represent to discuss and make comments on the draft budget. In terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act, the mayor must table a draft budget at least 90 days before the start of the new financial year (July 1) following which a public-participation process must commence. JOHAN VAN DER MERWE Mayoral Committee Member for Finance City of Cape Town *The article and headline was updated and corrected in yesterday’s late final edition