Mark Kleinschmidt, Ward 60 councillor
It is as clear as daylight that the City of Cape Town has a "pro-poor" budget, yet some political commentators believe the contrary and are obsessed with the notion that the City only looks after the interests of the minority few in Cape Town.
The City's expenditure alone on capital projects in townships is around R8billion of the R11billion spent on critical infrastructure and social housing - the most in African metropolitan cities!
Capetonians are offered a 100% rebate on property rates if their property value is R450 000 or their basic household income is R7 500.
Furthermore, they receive a full discount on refuse removal, 15kl of free water, 10.5kl free sanitation and up to 60 free electricity units monthly.
Pensioners with a basic household monthly income of R22 000 also qualify for a rebate.
The Cape Town story may be called a "Tale of Two Cities", but it is clear as daylight that the more affluent Capetonians take good care and subsidise the indigent or poor.
Kudos to mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and his team for delivering excellent services to all residing in the country's best-performing town - the Mother City.