*PUBLIC PRESSURE WINS PAUSE ON CAPE TOWN BUDGET VOTE* By *Suzette Little*, GOOD Deputy Secretary-General & Cape Town Caucus Chairperson Cape Town residents have secured a critical democratic win. Following sustained public pressure, petitions, and widespread calls for greater transparency, the City of Cape Town has confirmed it will delay the Budget Vote to allow for a further round of public input on the amended 2025/26 municipal budget. This extension is not merely a procedural adjustment, it is a direct response to Capetonians demanding to be heard on the issues that impact their monthly bills, service delivery, and the future of their communities. The City will now table changes to the budget at a full sitting of Council on Wednesday, 28 May 2025, opening a fresh public comment window from 28 May to 13 June. Residents have won more time to scrutinise and shape a budget that directly affects their lives. The GOOD Party and other civic voices have consistently warned that the City’s proposed Cleansing Tariff, linked arbitrarily to property values, would unfairly burden households already stretched by rising costs. Despite the City claiming its budget included “the widest social relief net of any South African city,” its proposals initially failed to reflect the lived realities of many Cape Town residents. Key public concerns included: * A lack of transparency in how costs were shifted between budget line items, particularly the movement of revenue from electricity tariffs to a new Cleansing Charge. * Above-inflation increases in rates and tariffs * The decision to link service charges to property value rather than actual usage, removing any real ability for struggling households to control or reduce their monthly utility bills. * Inadequate engagement on meaningful alternatives to revenue generation. While the City has since announced some concessions, including raising the pensioner rebate threshold and adjusting the cleaning tariff band, these changes only underscore the importance of public participation. Residents have a legal and constitutional right to weigh in on substantive budget amendments, especially when those changes directly impact household finances. This is not the end of the fight, it’s a new beginning. We urge every Capetonian to use this extended window to study the changes, ask the tough questions, and make their voices count. Let’s make this more than a technical compliance exercise. Let’s make it a real conversation about fairness, equity, and smart spending in Cape Town.