Minister Baartman meets with Garden Route Finance MMCs ahead of upcoming budget

On Monday, 28 October 2024, Western Cape Minister of Finance, Deidré Baartman, launched a month-long series of engagements with municipalities across the province in the lead-up to the Western Cape Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) at the end of November.

Minister Baartman met with the Members of the Mayoral Committees for Finance within the Garden Route District, as well as the Executive Mayor of the Garden Route District Municipality, Andrew Stroebel, and the Executive Mayor of George, Jackie von Brandis.

“The Western Cape Government (WCG) is committed to strengthening collaboration with local municipalities during this budget process. Municipalities in the Garden Route, like many across the province, are essential partners in driving economic development in the Western Cape and meeting the needs of our communities,” said Minister Baartman.

However, the pinch of the national fiscal crisis is also affecting municipalities. During Minister Baartman’s engagements, the Garden Route District officials highlighted the unprecedented financial pressures they face including reduced national funding, rising operational costs, disaster funding and the impact of in-migration on municipal infrastructure and resources.  

“There is now a growing and urgent need for municipalities to strengthen their financial health and their revenue streams in order to guarantee sustainable service delivery. The municipalities of the Garden Route District are at the coalface of the Western Cape’s population boom due to in-migration and they are feeling the pressure on their resources at a much greater rate,” said Minister Baartman.

Minister Baartman concluded, “I am therefore encouraged by the District’s shared vision for fiscal sustainability. Our engagement today highlighted the need for fiscal innovation such as blended and alternative finance, strategic planning to manage socio-economic and infrastructural demands, and improved good governance as a key to financial sustainability within the Garden Route District.”