Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has announced a record infrastructure investment of R39.7-billion over three years as part of the metro’s proposed ‘Invested in Hope’ Budget 2025/26.

He says the investment will create more than 130 000 construction-related jobs.

“Crucially, a full 75% of this investment directly benefits lower-income households.”

The three-year infrastructure investments include more than R16.5-billion for water and sanitation, R5-billion for electricity grid upgrades, R3.4-billion for roads, and a further R4.5-billion for the new MyCiti bus route linking Khayelitsha, Mitchells Plain and other communities with Wynberg and Claremont.

Around R88-million will also be spent during this period on the refurbishment and replacement of the current MyCiTi fleet, while R397-million will be spent on upgrading public transport interchanges, R153-million on formalising MyCiTi bus stops and rebuilding damaged stations, R294-million on road projects to relieve traffic congestion, R252-million on footways and cycle lanes, and R307-million on the upgrading and rehabilitation of traffic signals across the city.

The city’s Urban Mobility Directorate’s proposed operational budget for the next financial year alone, starting on July 1, is more than R4.7-billion.

This includes R1.7-billion to operate the MyCiTi bus service.

“A key priority is regular and ongoing road maintenance,” adds Urban Mobility MMC Rob Quintas.

“We have allocated over R2.1-billion from our operational budget for the 2025/26 financial year to road maintenance.”

The total 2025/26 energy budget for Cape Town includes the multiyear refurbishment of the Steenbras power plant, totalling more than R1.1-billion.

“Plans to offer protection against up to four stages [of Eskom loadshedding], where feasible, are well under way,” notes Energy MMC Xanthea Limberg.

“The Steenbras refurbishment, together with our solar own-build and commercial and residential programmes, lays the foundation for enhanced energy security, based on more affordable and cleaner resources.”

As part of the city’s record R6.7-billion safety and security budget, more than 700 new municipal police officers will be deployed across every ward.

“These 700 new officers are over and above the 400 new officers we have added to the ranks of law enforcement and metro police since the start of this term,” says Hill-Lewis.

“We are going to post officers in neighbourhoods where they will be stationed permanently, and where they will get to know that community well.

“They will get to know the neighbourhood challenges, the problem buildings, and the residents themselves. This kind of personal policing, where relationships and trust are built, can only lead to more positive outcomes.”

Residents can comment on the proposed Budget until May 2.