Minister Simmers delivers an adjustment budget with opportunities for you

On Friday 2 December, the Provincial Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers, delivered the Mid-Term Budget Adjustments for the Department of Human Settlements (Vote 8) and the Department of Transport and Public Works (Vote 10). 

In what was to be the maiden budget adjustment, for this portfolio, the Minister announced an upward adjustment to the sum of R387, 729 million for both Departments.

Vote 8 (DoHS), the budget for the 2022/23 financial year has been adjusted upwards by R 63, 169 million. This means an overall budget increase from R 2, 415 billion to R 2, 478 billion for the current financial year.  In addition, to further accelerate the provision of housing opportunities, funds have been shifted from the Asset Financing Reserve, amounting to R34 745 million.  This funding will provide a much-needed cash injection to the following strategic projects: 

• The Swellendam and Hessequa municipalities will receive a R5.5 million and R2. 2 million cash injections respectively for electrical connections to unlock affordable housing opportunities at the Railton and Melkhoutfontein projects. Through this Social Infrastructure investment, we will yield 350 housing opportunities by the end of the 2022/23 financial year. Both projects will be completed and delivered within a record time of 18 months.
• R11 378 million has been reallocated to seven municipalities to accelerate the roll-out of the title deeds restoration programme.
• An additional R15 million has been allocated for the Mill Park Deferred Ownership (Rent-to-Buy) project in Cape Agulhas. This funding will provide capital to build rent-to-buy homes that will be sold in 2 years’ time. 
• R667 000 has been set aside towards planning fees for the Ministerial Project - Vredenburg Urban Revitalization- in the Saldanha Bay municipality.  On completion, this project will yield 162 housing opportunities. 

R5 196 million will be rolled over to give expression to the Informal Settlements Upgrading Partnership Grant (UISPG) in respect of the National Upgrading Support Programme (NUSP) project at the Mossel Bay municipality.

Vote 10 (DTPW) has also received an upward adjustment of R324.560 million or 3.56% from R9 106 398 to R9 430 958.  This adjustment will allow for additional funding to be allocated to a number of public works and road infrastructure projects.  

With this adjusted budget the Western Cape Government, through the Ministry of Infrastructure is set deliver quality service filled with opportunities for all citizens and gives expression to our commitment to look at how we can serve residents better in this new portfolio by aligning projects.